New York state is “dramatically increasing
\nits goal” for minority-and-women-owned
\nenterprises’ (MWBE) involvement in state
\ncontracting, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced
\non Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
He said new data showed that the state has
\nfar exceeded the original 20 percent goal set
\nin his first State of the State address and is
\nnow setting the goal at 30 percent. He said
\nthat 30 percent represents the highest such
\ntarget in the nation for any state government.<\/p>\n
Cuomo made the announcement at the
\nstart of the state’s fourth annual MWBE
\nForum in Albany. He unveiled new data on
\nrecord MWBE utilization in state contracting
\nof 25 percent in fiscal year 2013-14, which
\nrepresents a total of nearly $2 billion in contracts.
\nThat figure is up from the 10 percent
\nMWBE state contract utilization rate in fiscal
\nyear 2010-11 when Cuomo took office.
\nThe membership of Cuomo’s MWBE
\nteam includes state Sen. Betty Little of
\nQueensbury.<\/p>\n
“Discrimination and racism is alive and
\nwell and it is illegal. Government has an
\naffirmative obligation to right these wrongs,
\nand we need to have the same strength in
\nenforcing these laws as we do with criminal
\nand drug laws,” Cuomo said. “First, we worked
\nhard to fix the MWBE program, looking at the
\ngoals set for the program and what had actually
\nbeen achieved. We exceeded our goal of state contracts going to MWBE contractors,
\nfrom 20 percent to 25 percent – that’s $2 billion
\nand the highest in the nation.”<\/p>\n
“New York has done many things but we
\nstill have more to do, and that is why are
\nproud to announce a goal of 30 percent, the
\nhighest in the United States, to continue this
\nprogression and momentum and ensure that
\nMWBEs are fully represented in this state.”<\/p>\n
In 2011, Cuomo established, by executive
\norder, a statewide MWBE Team to explore
\nways to eliminate barriers and expand the
\nparticipation of MWBEs in state contracting.
\nThree years later, a number of key initiatives
\nthat the MWBE Team pushed forward, including
\nan improved online reporting system, a
\nstreamlined certification process, increased
\noutreach initiatives, and a state-sponsored
\nbonding program, have helped increase
\nMWBE utilization beyond the 20 percent
\ngoal, Cuomo said.<\/p>\n
The MWBE Forum provides MWBEs and
\nsmall, emerging businesses with an opportunity
\nto learn about state procurement
\nprocess, state contract opportunities, and
\nconnect with public and private sector decision
\nmakers to expand their business and
\nincrease competitiveness. The goal of the
\nforum is to make the process of doing business
\nwith the state easier and to serve as a
\n“one-stop shop” that features New York state contract and business expansion opportunities
\nfor MWBEs and small businesses.<\/p>\n
Cuomo launched a “Bridge to Success”
\nloan program in March 2014 to invest at least
\n$20 million to expand access to short term
\nbridge loans for MWBEs. The program provides
\nqualified MWBEs with the short-term
\nresources necessary to participate in the up
\nto $1 billion in contracting opportunities with
\nNew York state. To date, lenders participating
\nin the program have already made 23 loans
\ntotaling $2.9 million to state-certified MWBEs
\ncontracting with state agencies, officials said.<\/p>\n
During the MWBE Forum’s opening session,
\nAlphonso B. David, deputy secretary
\nand counsel for civil rights, highlighted three
\ninitiatives that Cuomo launched since January
\nthat are designed to contribute to MWBE
\nparticipation on New York state contracts –
\nand the progress already made to date.
\nCuomo announced during his 2014 State
\nof the state address a goal to increase MWBE
\ncertification by an additional 2,000 firms.<\/p>\n
Since the governor delivered this year’s “State
\nof the State” address on January 8, the state
\nhas already increased its pool of certified
\nMWBEs by more than 700 firms.<\/p>\n
Cuomo launched a “Bridge to Success”
\nloan program in March 2014 to invest at least
\n$20 million to expand access to short term
\nbridge loans for MWBEs. The program provides
\nqualified MWBEs with the short-term
\nresources necessary to participate in the up
\nto $1 billion in contracting opportunities with
\nNew York state. To date, lenders participating
\nin the Bridge to Success program have
\nalready made 23 loans totaling $2.9 million
\nto state-certified MWBEs contracting with
\nstate agencies.<\/p>\n
Cuomo launched the state’s Business Mentor
\nNew York program in May 2014. Business
\nMentor NY is a free mentoring program that
\nconnects volunteer business professionals to
\nMWBEs and small businesses to help them
\naddress specific challenges and obstacles
\nto success.<\/p>\n
According to the governor’s office, the oneon-
\none guidance and counsel complements
\nthe state’s current network of financial and
\ntechnical assistance providers that help
\nowners and communities realize their full
\neconomic potential.<\/p>\n
Since the launching the program, nearly
\n1,200 mentors and entrepreneurs have
\nsigned up on the Business Mentor NY platform,
\nstate officials said.<\/p>\n
This includes nearly 500 pro bono business
\nprofessionals, such as attorneys, accountants,
\nconsultants and other entrepreneurs
\nand experts in the fields of finance, retail,
\ncommunications, information technology,
\nhuman resources and staffing, public relations,
\nsales and marketing, who volunteer
\nas mentors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[66,118,140],"yoast_head":"\r\n