Through the Minority Business Program, the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority businesses and offer them an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city. The intent of the program is to widen opportunities for participation, increase competition and to ensure the proper and diligent use of public funds. This policy is not intended in any manner to require that contracts be awarded to anyone other than the lowest responsible bidder, not to supersede the requirement of any federal, state or local laws and rules, regulations and policies.