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Knoxville mayor honors local women-owned, minority-owned businesses

The City of Knoxville awarded small diverse businesses and city departments that work with diverse businesses.

Mayor Madeline Rogero and Knoxville's Purchasing Department recognized several businesses for their commitments to diversity.

Thursday was the fourth annual Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE) Awards ceremony. The event awards women- and minority-owned businesses who do business with the city. It also recognizes city departments that regularly work with diverse businesses.

The city said in a statement that many of its contracts go to small businesses. Knoxville awards $50 million to $70 million in contracts every year. In the last fiscal year, roughly 1 in 3 of those city dollars went to small businesses.

The following businesses won awards:

  • Borderland Tees, Rising Star Award
  • Service One, Above and Beyond Award
  • Pioneer Builders, Inc., Minority-owned Business of the Year Award
  • A-Z Office Resources, Inc., Woman-owned Business of the Year Award
  • Washing Equipment of Tennessee, Small Business of the Year Award
  • Knoxville Spring Service, Impact Award
  • Siemens Mobility, Andrews Electric, and Edwards Supply Co., Partnership Award

The following Knoxville departments and employees won awards:

  • Sustainability, Plans Review & Inspections / Codes Enforcement, and the 311 Center for Service Innovation received Advocate Awards for their outreach efforts to women- and minority-owned businesses.
  • Ben Buckner, Public Service’s Logistics and Supply Manager, received an Employee Advocate of the Year Award.
  •  Linda Blackburn, Senior Buyer in Finance, also received an Employee Advocate of the Year Award.

RELATED: Tyvi Small named UT's permanent vice chancellor for diversity and engagement

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