ALERT! Black Business Community

Will Minority Business participate in the Great Economic Recovery Plan?

From: Faye Anderson
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 8:30 PM

Subject: Minority Business Participation in the Economic Recovery Plan

Dear Colleagues:

As you know, there is growing concern among African Americans about whether implementation of President Obama's economic recovery plan will be fair and equitable, particularly given infrastructure spending decisions will be made at the state and local levels.

The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, the National Association of State Budget Officers and the National Association of State Chief Information Officers have sent a joint letter to OMB Director Peter Orszag requesting Federal guidance on states’ reporting and accountability requirements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

A NASPO member has suggested that state Chief Procurement Officers help coordinate affirmative action procurement provisions of federal stimulus sub-grants to states. NASPO is willing to assume that role if enough stakeholders ask it to get involved. Otherwise, it will be up to individual states to ensure minority businesses participate in the procurement/ contracting process for federal stimulus funds.

Given the time constraints, we have to pursue a multifaceted strategy. The clock is ticking. States are required to begin obligating the first 50 percent of its infrastructure money within 120 days from February 17 or those dollars will be redistributed.

NASPO’s involvement would add another voice in support of inclusion and transparency. The OMB letter can serve as a model for minority business reporting and accountability requirements.

I hope you will encourage your readers to contact NASPO and urge them to get involved in the issue of minority business participation in the economic recovery plan. To that end, they should send an email to:
Jack Gallt
NASPO Association Director
jgallt@ AMRms.com

Nicole Smith
NASPO Issues Coordinator
nsmith@ AMRms.com

Together, we can turn hope into policy. If there are any questions, I can be reached at trackingchange@ gmail.com

Best,


Faye
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Faye M. Anderson
Citizen Journalist
Anderson@Large