The Indy Black Chamber of Commerce criticized Gov. Mike Braun’s decision to end contracting preferences for women- and minority-owned businesses.
In a statement, the chamber said ending the Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises certification and contracting preference program is a “significant setback.”
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“This decision does not create a level playing field,” the July 16 statement says, “but it removes one of the few tools that helped level it in the first place.”
Braun’s announcement on July 15 that he would end the preferences followed a determination by Attorney General Todd Rokita that the practice was unconstitutional.
Both Indiana Republicans appear to be following the lead of the Trump administration. Shortly after taking office in 2025, President Donald Trump signed executive orders eliminating federal diversity programs and initiatives.
The Indiana program was part of the state’s Division of Supplier Diversity, which was created by a state law in 1983. The goal was to prevent discrimination by setting hiring goals for women- and minority-owned businesses on state contracts.
As of July 16, the Division of Supplier Diversity page on the state’s website appears to have been taken down. Archived versions of the page can be found on the Wayback Machine.
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Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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