For the first time in eight years, the U.S. government has reached its small business federal contracting goal. The government awarded 23.39 percent in federal contracts to small businesses. That’s the equivalent of $83.1 billion in eligible contracting dollars.

“When we hit our small business procurement target, it’s a win,” said U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet in a release. “Small businesses get the revenue they need to grow and create jobs, and the federal government gets the chance to work with some of the most responsive, innovative and nimble companies in the U.S. while the economy grows.”

Four out of the five major small business contracting categories showed considerable improvement, including boosts in performance in relation to statutory goals. Small companies won a higher percentage of dollars even though there was less work available as the federal government pulled back on spending.

The government did not hit its goal of spending 5 percent of its prime contracting dollars with women-owned small businesses. The actual result was 4.32 percent, though women-owned businesses passed the goal for subcontractor participation. The result was 6.6 percent, compared to the goal of 5 percent.

Service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses passed their goal for participation as prime contractors, winning 3.38 percent of dollars. The participation goal was 3 percent. SDVOSBs did not hit the goal for subcontractor participation. The goal was 3 percent; the result was 1.7 percent.

Participation for HUBZone small businesses fell short in both the prime (1.76 percent) and subcontracting categories (1.20 percent). The goal, at both the prime and subcontracting level, was 3 percent.