New York state is “dramatically increasing
its goal” for minority-and-women-owned
enterprises’ (MWBE) involvement in state
contracting, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced
on Oct. 1.
He said new data showed that the state has
far exceeded the original 20 percent goal set
in his first State of the State address and is
now setting the goal at 30 percent. He said
that 30 percent represents the highest such
target in the nation for any state government.
Cuomo made the announcement at the
start of the state’s fourth annual MWBE
Forum in Albany. He unveiled new data on
record MWBE utilization in state contracting
of 25 percent in fiscal year 2013-14, which
represents a total of nearly $2 billion in contracts.
That figure is up from the 10 percent
MWBE state contract utilization rate in fiscal
year 2010-11 when Cuomo took office.
The membership of Cuomo’s MWBE
team includes state Sen. Betty Little of
Queensbury.
“Discrimination and racism is alive and
well and it is illegal. Government has an
affirmative obligation to right these wrongs,
and we need to have the same strength in
enforcing these laws as we do with criminal
and drug laws,” Cuomo said. “First, we worked
hard to fix the MWBE program, looking at the
goals set for the program and what had actually
been achieved. We exceeded our goal of state contracts going to MWBE contractors,
from 20 percent to 25 percent – that’s $2 billion
and the highest in the nation.”
“New York has done many things but we
still have more to do, and that is why are
proud to announce a goal of 30 percent, the
highest in the United States, to continue this
progression and momentum and ensure that
MWBEs are fully represented in this state.”
In 2011, Cuomo established, by executive
order, a statewide MWBE Team to explore
ways to eliminate barriers and expand the
participation of MWBEs in state contracting.
Three years later, a number of key initiatives
that the MWBE Team pushed forward, including
an improved online reporting system, a
streamlined certification process, increased
outreach initiatives, and a state-sponsored
bonding program, have helped increase
MWBE utilization beyond the 20 percent
goal, Cuomo said.
The MWBE Forum provides MWBEs and
small, emerging businesses with an opportunity
to learn about state procurement
process, state contract opportunities, and
connect with public and private sector decision
makers to expand their business and
increase competitiveness. The goal of the
forum is to make the process of doing business
with the state easier and to serve as a
“one-stop shop” that features New York state contract and business expansion opportunities
for MWBEs and small businesses.
Cuomo launched a “Bridge to Success”
loan program in March 2014 to invest at least
$20 million to expand access to short term
bridge loans for MWBEs. The program provides
qualified MWBEs with the short-term
resources necessary to participate in the up
to $1 billion in contracting opportunities with
New York state. To date, lenders participating
in the program have already made 23 loans
totaling $2.9 million to state-certified MWBEs
contracting with state agencies, officials said.
During the MWBE Forum’s opening session,
Alphonso B. David, deputy secretary
and counsel for civil rights, highlighted three
initiatives that Cuomo launched since January
that are designed to contribute to MWBE
participation on New York state contracts –
and the progress already made to date.
Cuomo announced during his 2014 State
of the state address a goal to increase MWBE
certification by an additional 2,000 firms.
Since the governor delivered this year’s “State
of the State” address on January 8, the state
has already increased its pool of certified
MWBEs by more than 700 firms.
Cuomo launched a “Bridge to Success”
loan program in March 2014 to invest at least
$20 million to expand access to short term
bridge loans for MWBEs. The program provides
qualified MWBEs with the short-term
resources necessary to participate in the up
to $1 billion in contracting opportunities with
New York state. To date, lenders participating
in the Bridge to Success program have
already made 23 loans totaling $2.9 million
to state-certified MWBEs contracting with
state agencies.
Cuomo launched the state’s Business Mentor
New York program in May 2014. Business
Mentor NY is a free mentoring program that
connects volunteer business professionals to
MWBEs and small businesses to help them
address specific challenges and obstacles
to success.
According to the governor’s office, the oneon-
one guidance and counsel complements
the state’s current network of financial and
technical assistance providers that help
owners and communities realize their full
economic potential.
Since the launching the program, nearly
1,200 mentors and entrepreneurs have
signed up on the Business Mentor NY platform,
state officials said.
This includes nearly 500 pro bono business
professionals, such as attorneys, accountants,
consultants and other entrepreneurs
and experts in the fields of finance, retail,
communications, information technology,
human resources and staffing, public relations,
sales and marketing, who volunteer
as mentors.