Mayor Cara Spencer signed Executive Order 91, which officially lifts the pause on the MWBE Program

On September 5, 2025, Mayor Cara Spencer signed Executive Order 91, officially lifting the pause on the City of St. Louis’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program that had been in place since August.

Key Provisions of Executive Order 91

• Program Restarted: SLDC will immediately resume MWBE certifications and project contracting activities.

• Project-Based Goals: MWBE subcontractor goals will now be set on a project-by-project basis rather than through blanket requirements.

• Guidance from Disparity Study: Goal-setting will be informed by MWBE availability in specific work categories, based on the City’s 2024 Disparity Study.

• Temporary Framework: These project-based goals will remain in effect until new or revised legislation is enacted by the Board of Aldermen.

What This Means for Contractors

The shift to project-specific goals represents a significant change for contractors and subcontractors working on City projects. While the intention is to better reflect real market availability, the method for calculating and applying these goals has not yet been fully clarified.