Assemblage Announces M/WBE Certification

Designation Supports Diversity in NYC Small Businesses

Assemblage Landscape Architecture is pleased to share that we have been approved by the NYC Department of Small Business Services as a certified M/WBE business. For Assemblage, the designation as a M/WBE business signals an important step in actively diversifying leadership in the profession of landscape architecture as well as more broadly aligning ourselves with the community of M/WBE business leaders. 

Across organizations and businesses nation-wide, equity and diversity is a conversation and a concern with increasing visibility and priority. Ironically, these positive and proactive changes coincide with pressure to eliminate historic legislation such as the affirmative action acts that initiated equity into public and private institutions in compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

Within this cultural tug of war, The Minority and Women-Owner Business Enterprise Program administered by The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) stands out as an example of a successful effort to build more diverse networks within the City’s thousands of small businesses. 

As an agency, SBS administers programs and services to unlock economic potential through innovative and creative programming, services, and grants. The Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) is specifically designed to support a more diverse business culture and ensure compliance with local laws that support the City’s small business community. Their rigorous application and resulting certification supports networking and collaboration among those with the M/WBE designation. 

Assemblage sees the program as encouraging more minorities and women to become leaders in the practice. A quick search for M/WBE landscape architects in the City Certification directory brings up 44 firms. While this number represents only the portion of M/WBE firms who have gone through the certification process, we hope to see that number grow as more landscape architects take this rewarding step. With our designation, we are taking an active role in a city-wide process to encourage new leaders through equitable networking and hiring. M/WBE certification means we have more visibility to businesses that want to diversify their professional network, and we appreciate having a platform for making these connections with the support of the City.

written for Assemblage by Lori Ball Horton