A study that was commissioned by Nassau County found that there is both a racial and gender disparity when it comes to business owners who win county contracts.

Officials say they are addressing the issue and implementing change.

The study, released this fall, shows that more than 90% of county contracts between 2015 and 2019 went to white male business owners and less than 10% to minority- and women-owned businesses.

County officials say the study was commissioned under the previous administration, and that they received a draft of the study in January 2024.

The county says it has implemented changes this year, including an electronic certification process, doing more outreach to minority- and women-owned businesses and databases where it can find certified businesses.

Nassau officials say they have awarded county contracts to 300 more minority- and women-owned businesses under this administration than the last.

Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages says the county is still not doing enough.

"We need to fix that wrong by having hearings, policy changes, a task force, and having a separate entity being responsible for this, said Solages.

Nassau County officials say their target is to boost the number of minority- and women-owned businesses that get county contracts, from less than 10% to 15%.