Charlotte city leaders vowed to put every manager through yearly equity training so more minority-, women- and small-business firms could get a fair shot at city contracts. The training was supposed to standardize how departments buy services and make it easier for certified vendors to compete. But new reporting shows most managers still have not taken the procurement course city leaders once described as mandatory.
Records, public documents and interviews trace the pledge to a 2022 memo from City Manager Marcus Jones. Yet a public records response in September 2025 initially said no such training existed. City officials later pointed to three inclusion sessions held in February 2024, with 301 employees attending in person and 528 completing the course online. The city also reported that 22 employees finished the training in 2025 and one person had finished it so far in 2026. Reporters found that fewer than 25% of city managers have completed procurement training. Jones told reporters that "more than 850 employees have completed the training, which remains available to those involved in procurement," and Deputy City Manager Shawn Heath admitted "it shouldn't have taken so long," as reported by WCNC.
How the Inclusion Office Works
The city's Office of Charlotte Business INClusion (CBI) runs vendor certification, trainings and outreach that are meant to help minority-, women- and small-business enterprise (MWSBE) firms land city work. According to the City of Charlotte, the program maintains an online directory, InclusionCLT tools and workshops that are supposed to connect certified vendors with upcoming contract opportunities.
Where the Numbers Diverge
Even as CBI talks up capacity-building efforts, the results look uneven. A review of city figures found a nearly 6% decrease in city spending with MWSBEs in fiscal year 2024, even while the city reported roughly $185,000,000 going to certified vendors that year. That gap, with rising dollars in some measures but low manager training rates in others, helps explain why some small businesses still struggle to access contracts despite the city's stated priorities, as reported by WCNC.
Why Small Businesses Are Watching
Advocates and consultants say the training shortfall has real consequences because managers and contract leads are often the first gatekeepers for smaller service deals. The city's FY2023 annual report documented CBI programs, contractor-development courses and outreach that helped expand the pool of certified vendors. That context, which local outlets have summarized, underscores that implementation, not just program design, is what ultimately matters; see a local breakdown of that report.
What Comes Next
City officials say the training remains available for procurement staff and point to procurement-policy changes meant to steer smaller service contracts toward CBI-certified vendors. Advocates counter that those policy tweaks are not the same as training the managers who actually authorize or oversee purchases. The FY2023 CBI annual report lays out the contractor-development and training work that city leaders say will help scale inclusion, but meeting the city's own goals will require regular, citywide follow-through and clearer deadlines; see the city's report for details at the City of Charlotte.
