In 2022, Erie County set aside $1 million from the 2021 budget surplus to pay for a study to look at why there weren’t more women- and minority-owned businesses getting county purchasing and service contracts.

Today, three years since the study was commissioned, county legislators still haven’t seen it.

“I know we have a lot going on with the budget and those other things, but that doesn’t mean we can forget things,” said Lawrence Dupre, D-Buffalo, chairman of the Women and Minority Business Enterprise Committee. “We have to chew gum and walk at the same time.”

The Buffalo News began inquiring about the status of the study several weeks ago. Since The News began asking questions, county officials now say the study has been finalized and sent over to the County Legislature.

The drawn-ou

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