Chattanooga boosts purchases from minority businesses

Chattanooga has hit one of its goals for working with diverse businesses in the city four months early. According to City Spokeswoman Lacie Stone, more than 14 percent of the companies the city does business with have African American, Latino, Asian, female or veteran owners.

In April, 2013, that number was 2 percent. The city set the goal of 14 percent by June. Since Jan. 1, the city has spent $3 million with such businesses, Stone said. This quarter, the city has done business with 127 diverse businesses. Of those, 73 are women-owned, 39 are minority-owned, and 15 are owned by veterans.

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