OMWBE was established in 1983 to address equity in public spending. At that time, we were only 1 of 2 states to place such significant importance on equity in public spending, that an entire state agency was created. The legislature acknowledged minority and women-owned businesses were and still are significantly underrepresented and have been denied equitable competitive opportunities. OMWBE is charged to mitigate societal discrimination and other barriers to BIPOC and women owned businesses to participating in public spending.