Governor Rendell Says Number of Minority-and Women-Owned Businesses Winning State Contracts has Quadrupled
GOVERNOR RENDELL SAYS NUMBER OF MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES WINNING STATE CONTRACTS HAS QUADRUPLED
HARRISBURG Governor Edward G. Rendell today said that his initiative to increase state contracting opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses has resulted in a quadrupling in the value of those contracts.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the Department of General Services has entered into, or has renewed, contracts worth approximately $510 million and $42.3 million of that total was awarded to minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) contractors.
"For nearly four years, we've worked to open the door of state government to create new opportunities," said Governor Rendell. "When I took office, it was clear minority- and women-owned businesses were being shut out of the procurement process, so we established a system that levels the playing field for these firms and allows them to compete among companies that are often larger and have a greater pool of resources.
"In January 2003, less than 2 percent of Pennsylvania's procurement dollars went to women- or minority-run firms. Today, we've more than quadrupled that number, as this figure now stands at 8.3 percent. We've come a long way, but there is still room for improvement."
The Governor commended the Department of General Services and Peter Speaks, deputy secretary and special advisor to the Governor for Minority, Women Owned and Disadvantaged Business Development, for their successful efforts to increase state contracting opportunities.
"Peter has focused his time and effort on increasing state contracting opportunities for minority and women owned business," the Governor said. "He has produced positive results for these Pennsylvania businesses."
In April 2004, Governor Rendell issued an executive order transforming the commonwealth's approach to minority- and women-owned business development. The executive order requires that all 42 agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction maximize supplier diversity opportunities in the procurement of goods, services and construction.
The Department of General Services was given the job of expanding the pool of qualified companies capable of providing dependable services and quality products. To that end, DGS streamlined the certification process and increased the pool of certified MWBE companies by 30 percent to more than 1,700.
DGS Secretary James P. Creedon said, "Under Governor Rendell's guidance, the Department of General Services has focused on providing MWBEs incentives when commodity purchases through strategic sourcing and public works construction projects are involvedtwo of the areas with the largest annual expenditures within DGS."
"Governor Rendell is committed to promoting supplier diversity in state contracts," Speaks said. "We are working hard to reach 10 percent participation by the end of 2006. The increase the Governor announced today shows that we are making solid progress and providing a highly effective and sustainable MWBE program that will become a permanent part of the commonwealth's economic infrastructure."
Creedon said the state's Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities conducts workshops around the state and serves as an informational resource in the creation and development of minority and women-owned businesses. Creedon and Speaks reported the increase in Philadelphia today at a meeting of the Governor's Advisory Council on Minority and Women Business Development.
Certifying with the state is free and does not require legal, financial or other paid-professional assistance. To obtain a certification application and instructions, visit www.dgs.state.pa.us, or call (717) 783-3119.
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