Orange County Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell announced a newly revised Minority and Women Business Enterprise ordinance that will expand opportunities for women and minority businesses with a desire to do business with Orange County Government.
Like many local governments, Orange County has a long record of commitment to include minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises (“M/WBEs”) in its public contracting and procurement activities.
In order to implement an M/WBE ordinance that is effective, enforceable, and legally defensible, Commissioner Moore Russell sought evidence, which demonstrates that M/WBE’s are underutilized in public contracting within the county. Research surmised the existence of an exclusionary network in public contracting and many other systemic barriers which have excluded otherwise qualified M/WBE’s from receipt of county contracts.
To build on her commitment to the small business industry, she hosted two public forums for minority and women business owners to provide input regarding Orange County’s current ordinance. In addition to this information, she also utilized the results of a disparity study conducted in 2005, to determine the need for the continued use of an Orange County M/WBE plan. The results of the disparity study validated the arguments of the local minority community, stating “there is strong evidence to justify the continuation of a goals program in many areas of the County’s procurement program.” Based on the overall evaluation, confirmation was established that discrimination continues to exist for women, minorities, and disadvantaged businesses in the Orange County market.
Commissioner Moore Russell has been passionate about this charge because she understands the frustration of those who have been waiting for Orange County to do a better job with our W/MBE program. Under her administration, she commits that Orange County must and will do better with addressing why so many local businesses have not or cannot be a participant in the program. This daunting task includes the proposed revisions to the ordinance and technological assistance for those businesses that are held back because of certification issues.
As a result, Moore Russell has tasked staff with examining ways to make it easier and more efficient for businesses to become certified to participate in the W/MBE program. It is her rationale that by implementing these strategic plans, it places emphasis on stimulating our minority owned businesses during this downward shift in the economy.
These ordinance revisions that have been spear-headed by Commissioner Moore Russell will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners on August 4, 2009. They are:
· Increase Business Net Worth
· Allow firms to be certified as a graduate M/WBE
· Adjust M/WBE goals for each category
· Increase sliding scale limits
· Redefine the “Good Faith Effort” standard
To support these efforts, please join the Orange County Board of Commissioners at the Orange County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind Avenue, 1st Floor/BCC Chambers, Orlando, FL.
Contact: Roberta Walton, Aide to Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 407-836-5860
