Illinois diversity certifications lag despite partial computer fix
[July 22, 2026]
By Jared Strong | The Center Square
(The Center Square) -- State diversity leaders recently reported a large
increase in the number of Illinois businesses that get better access to
state contracts -- those that are owned by racial minorities, women or
people with disabilities -- thanks to a partial solution to a computer
problem that has been ongoing for two years.
But that pool of certified businesses is still much smaller than it was
before the problem.
It began in July 2024, when the state Commission on Equity and Inclusion
switched to a new computer system that was supposed to streamline its
efforts but instead led to a steep decrease in the number of businesses
because it is incompatible with the systems of other government
agencies.
By May 2026 the number of businesses had dropped to about 2,700, or half
of its peak of about 5,400.
This month the commission reported an increase of about 21 percent to
3,268. It was the first meaningful increase in certifications since the
computer switch.
"We're seeing the progress," LaTasha Binder, a deputy director for the
commission, said during a public meeting last week. "And we expect to
see more increase."
The old system was able to automatically pull data about businesses that
were certified by other government entities, such as the city of
Chicago. The new computer system lacks a similar automation, so the
commission's staff is now manually uploading the data from other
agencies into the commission's system, said Robin Streets, the
commission's acting executive director.
The commission "is also developing a solution that will enable automated
bulk uploads," Streets told The Center Square in an email.
He did not specify how much of the recent increase in certifications was
due to the staff's manual uploads or how many remained to be processed.
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Commissioner Bruce Montgomery speaks during an Illinois Commission
on Equity and Inclusion meeting, Feb. 18, 2026. Photo: Jared Strong
/ The Center Square
The size of the certification pool is important to the state's diversity
efforts, which includes goals of awarding 20 or 30 percent of state
contract money to businesses that state leaders have determined to be
disadvantaged.
After a business certifies that it is majority owned by someone who is a
racial minority, female or disabled, the business gets help to navigate
the state contracting process and preference in selection. The advantage
is significant enough that businesses have attempted to fake eligibility
for the designation.
Despite the certification decline, the commission reported that the
state awarded about $1.6 billion of contract money to the businesses
last year. That's a new high, but the money went to about 9 percent
fewer businesses.
Several Democrat and Republican state lawmakers have said they are
displeased with the commission's work, and some want to disband it.
Lawmakers created the commission in 2022 and put seven commissioners at
its helm, each of who have salaries of more than $150,000.
The commission's executive director recently resigned to take a
different state government job.
Jared Strong is an investigative reporter for The
Center Square based in the Midwest. He is a lifelong Iowan who has
worked for news organizations – big and small – for more than 20 years.
He and his wife have three children, a small flock of chickens and an
old Case tractor.
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