The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Minority Business Enterprises program in the City of Atlanta, and to determine the extent to which this program can be modelled to adequately address the plight of minority businesses in other cities. Attempts have been made to analyze the economic performances of minority businesses at the national level, and, also, attempts have been made to ascertain the extent to which a local Minority Business Enterprise program, such as the one in the City of Atlanta can be targeted to industries whose products and services the city requires. In addition, the techniques which the City of Atlanta utilizes to attract minority businesses in its purchasing and contracting activities show an upward trend since the inception of this program. This case study is important because it demonstrates an attempt by a municipal government, to grapple with, to utilize the techniques for, and to devise solutions to problems besieging minority businesses in the free market economy. The descriptive analysis method was used in this research effort. The researcher employed direct observation, interviews, and trend analysis techniques to gather, to evaluate, and to analyze relevant data. The data utilized in this research were obtained from secondary sources, particularly a study by James H. Lowry, on MBEP in the City of Atlanta; United States Congressional Records; the U.S. Department of Commerce; City of Atlanta; a U.S. Supreme Court Case; a State of Georgia Supreme Court case and the local mass media.

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