The city has fallen short of that goal the past three years and likely will do so again this year. City officials say they can't find enough qualifying businesses, despite coordinating or participating in outreach events throughout the year.

The most in contract the city has issued in one year was $5 million in 2010, which was less than 1 percent of total contract money for the year. By the end of this past September, the city and county awarded $900,000, or 0.25 percent of all contract funding ear, to certified veteran-owned businesses.

Indianapolis and Marion County set the goal in 2008.