Res. No. 115
Resolution in support of H.R. 3771, which amends the Small Business Act to establish mentorship and assistance programs designed to help minority, veteran-owned, and women-owned small businesses operate in the construction industry.
By Council Members James, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Dromm, Fidler, Vann, Williams, Rodriguez, Mealy and Koo
Whereas, The construction industry often serves as an entry point for minority, women and veteran small business owners; and
Whereas, Small businesses serving the needs of the construction industry include
contractors, specialty trade contractors, suppliers, fabricators, and vendors; and Whereas, The construction industry provides rewarding careers, but remains a challenging and competitive business environment that demands specialized knowledge and skill sets from small businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans; and
Whereas, The City of New York Disparity Study of 2005 revealed a disparity between the availability and the utilization of Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) when awarding local government procurement contracts, and
Whereas, in 2005, New York City passed Local Law 129, which created a M/WBE program to expand government contracting opportunities for minority and women owned businesses, and
Whereas, According to the Mayor's Office of Contract Services' Fiscal Year 2009 Agency Procurement Indicators Report M/WBEs were awarded $96,826,183, which represents only 3.9% of the total dollar volume of $2.5 billion in prime construction contracts awarded in fiscal year 2009; and
Whereas, Minority, veteran-owned, and women-owned small businesses continue to need capacity building services to improve their ability to compete in the construction industry in New York City and elsewhere; and
Whereas, H.R. 3711, amends the Small Business Act by charging the United States Small Business Administration ("SBA") with the task of establishing mentorship programs to assist minority, women-owned and veteran-owned small businesses and establishing grant programs to enhance access to specialized education and resources; and
Whereas, H.R. 3711 requires SBA to disburse grants to state and local governments in order to: (i) establish or expand mentorship and assistance programs, (ii) identify problems and solutions small businesses are experiencing in the construction industry, (iii) establish performance criteria and objectives related to the mentoring and assistance programs, (iv) encourage participation from relevant trade associations to partner with State and local government entities, (v) establish and fund State and local grant programs for higher education institutions and entities that conduct business or executive trainings to develop and administer a standing curriculum benefitting owners and executives of eligible small business concerns and focus on financial accounting, business, and risk management best practices in the construction industry, and (vi) establish and fund State and local grant programs to award grants at a maximum of $15,000 to eligible small businesses to pay for legal, accounting and other business services to prepare the businesses to qualify for financial and surety credit; and
Whereas, H.R. 3771 is designed to assist small businesses owned and controlled by women, minorities, and veterans operate in the construction industry; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports H.R. 3771, which amends the Small Business Act to establish mentorship and assistance programs designed to help minority, veteran-owned, and women-owned small businesses operate in the construction industry.
IR
LS 7882
2/2/10