Check-it:"City Council advanced today a plan, introduced by the Mayor and colleagues, that will retire the City's Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program and replace it with a newly-expanded small business program designed to increase the number of contracting opportunities for local firms across Kansas City. The City's commitment to opening its contracts to small and local businesses will continue without interruption under the new program." The transition follows several recent legal issues, including a lawsuit pursued by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and a United States Supreme Court decision from this term limiting the ability of local governments like Kansas City to address historical racial and gender bias limiting opportunities for women and racial minorities in Kansas City." Facing federal lawsuit, Kansas City proposes new system to help local small businesses Members of a city council committee advanced the plan which calls for the replacement of the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise. City Council advances plan to replace KC's minority- and women-owned business program Kansas City is replacing its Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise program with a broader program designed to help more businesses than before while still abiding by new legal rulings.