Winston-Salem Amended City Contracting Rules

The city has updated its procurement policies to align with new state legislation.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Human Resources

Winston-Salem Amended City Contracting Rules

Live Poll

Do you support prioritizing general small-business programs over minority- and women-owned business participation goals in city contracting?

Winston-Salem officials have introduced an ordinance to rename the city's business advisory committee following changes to state law. The city previously ended minority- and women-owned business scoring in project evaluations on July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

These amendments bring local ordinances into compliance with state law after the 2026 state budget repealed previous authorizations for minority- or women-owned business participation requirements. The changes ensure local policies align with the state-level abolition of the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses.

The advisory committee consists of 7 members serving 2-year terms. State certification requirements now limit participation to businesses with 100 or fewer employees and $1.5 million or less in annual net income.

The players

General Government Committee

This body is responsible for reviewing the proposed ordinance changes regarding city contracting policies.

Small Business Enterprise Advisory Committee

This is the renamed version of the former minority- and women-owned business committee tasked with reviewing contractor performance.

The details

The proposed ordinance renames the Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise Advisory Committee to the Small Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. The committee will continue to review contractor good-faith efforts and provide recommendations to the mayor and council, while the city maintains the ability to disqualify contractors who violate nondiscrimination law.

July 1, 2026: MWBE scoring and provisions were removed from city evaluations.
July 7, 2026: Senate Bill 257 was signed by the governor.
October 12, 2026: The General Government Committee is scheduled to consider the ordinance changes.
October 15, 2026: The state certification window opens.
November 30, 2026: The state certification window closes.

Market Landscape

The city’s move reflects a broader realignment of local procurement practices following the repeal of state-authorized participation mandates. This shift forces a transition toward the new state-defined small business standards, impacting how local contractors compete for city projects.

Local business owners should prepare for changes in how city projects are evaluated and awarded under the new Small Business Enterprise framework. Applicants should monitor official announcements regarding updated eligibility requirements and the upcoming state certification window.

The takeaway

Contractors currently working with the city should review their agreements, as existing contracts that were not fully executed are being amended. Business owners should prepare documentation for the new state certification standards to ensure they remain eligible for future municipal opportunities.

What happens next

The General Government Committee will consider the proposed ordinance changes on October 12, 2026, followed by the opening of the state certification window on October 15, 2026.