By Camille Benton | M•I•A MEDIA GROUP
A county contract can give a small business enough steady work to hire employees, buy equipment or qualify for a larger job. But the opportunity often starts with a bid workshop, a call from a prime contractor or someone who can explain how to get on a vendor list. Florida’s new restrictions on local diversity, equity and inclusion programs could change who pays for that help. For Black entrepreneurs in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the practical question is how to keep those connections and find new customers.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1134 in April. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, restricts cities and counties from funding, promoting or taking official action related to DEI as defined by the statute. It also requires prospective recipients of local contracts or grants to certify that they do not and will not use city or county funds to require employees or others covered by the statute to affirm, study or receive instruction using covered DEI materials. For most contracts, that requirement applies to agreements executed or renewed after Jan. 1.
Three counties, three starting points
Miami-Dade County offers Small Business Enterprise certifications for construction, architecture and engineering, and goods and services. The county has described its small-business program as race- and gender-neutral. For a firm looking for its first county job, the starting point is identifying the certification that matches what it sells, then looking at recent solicitations to see how the county buys that service and what documentation it expects.
Broward County offers Small Business Enterprise and County Business Enterprise certifications. Its published framework includes selected projects valued at $250,000 or less that are reserved for certified small businesses. The county says its CBE program uses economic and size standards. A Broward contractor can look for smaller jobs to bid on directly while using the county’s certified firm directory to identify potential partners for larger projects.
Palm Beach County offers a look at a shift already underway. In June 2025, before SB 1134 was signed, the county suspended race- and gender-conscious procurement initiatives, subcontracting goals and minority- and women-owned business certifications under a separate county ordinance. The county said already-certified firms would be identified as Small Business Enterprises and remain included in race- and gender-neutral initiatives. For those owners, the practical question is which current solicitations recognize that designation and where to find help preparing a bid.
Where the law leaves room
A workshop built around business size, first-time bidders or the specific demands of a trade can still teach skills Black entrepreneurs need. What matters is how the program is designed and delivered. An open workshop on bonding and insurance, for example, can help a small contractor prepare for a county bid. Its reach will depend on whether local chambers and trade groups hear about it early enough to get the information to their members.
Private funding offers another route. Chambers and business associations can explore member dues, foundation grants or corporate sponsorships to support independently run mentoring and buyer introductions, subject to applicable law. A chamber that also receives municipal grants can keep clear records of which funds pay for staff time, meeting space and materials. That separation matters because SB 1134 reaches indirect local government support as well.
The law expressly preserves actions required by state or federal law or regulations. On a federally funded project, the relevant question is what those rules require. The statute also exempts actions by bodies made up of nonelected volunteers and permits limited administrative support for them. A volunteer advisory group could give business owners a forum to raise problems such as short bid windows or difficult insurance requirements. Any proposal involving city or county spending would still need to be evaluated under the law.
Turn public experience into private sales
A firm that has cleaned a county building can use that work to approach hospitals, hotels or commercial property managers. The pitch can specify how much space it serviced, how it staffed the job and how quickly it handled after-hours requests. A caterer can use a similar approach with convention vendors and corporate meeting planners. A completed government job gives both businesses a reference they can take to buyers across the three counties.
Federal contracting can add another source of work. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s HUBZone program gives eligible firms access to certain federal contracting opportunities. Qualification generally includes having a principal office in a designated area and at least 35% of employees living in HUBZones, among other requirements. A firm can also pursue subcontracting with companies that already hold federal awards and use that work to build experience with federal buyers.
Black chambers and business associations can help members turn those options into sales. A shared calendar could track county bids and private purchasing events. A buyer meeting could pair a hotel operator looking for maintenance services with firms that can meet its insurance and staffing requirements. The follow-up is where the value becomes clear. Did the buyer ask for a quote, add a supplier to its roster or issue a purchase order?
As Jan. 1 approaches, owners can start by identifying what each program actually provides. A lost bid alert calls for a new source of leads. A lost workshop calls for someone who can walk through a solicitation before it closes. A lost introduction calls for direct outreach to buyers and prime contractors. Across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the goal is to keep competing for public work while building enough relationships in the private market that a change at City Hall or County Hall doesn’t decide where the next contract comes from.
