New initiatives increase efforts to promote opportunities for minority-owned businesses in Massachusetts
The Baker-Polito Administration announced this week a series of measures to continue ongoing efforts to ensure equal opportunity and increase access for diverse companies in state contracting.
As part of the announcement, the Administration is filing legislation to ensure a bill that would establish the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) as a separate state agency with tools and resources to ensure accountability and compliance with diversity goals.
The bill would also oversee agency diversity spending, and audit and review spending data.
“Our administration is committed to continuing to promote growth and opportunity and ensure the Commonwealth takes every opportunity to support and benefit from its diverse business community,” said Governor Charlie Baker.
The Administration also announced it will implement several other improvements in the supplier diversity space, including a more active role for the SDO in engaging diverse and small businesses in public procurements.
Another critical component is the expanded reporting for spending between state contractors and their diverse business partners, as well as the publication of minority-business-enterprise spending by race and ethnicity.
An increase in bid evaluation percentages for certain procurements in order to promote more diversity (a component of the “Massport Model”), and the translation of SDO materials into multiple languages should also contribute “to strengthen the state contracting process with greater diversity, transparency and accountability,” added Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.
The measures come as a result of taking into consideration recommendations from leaders in the minority business community, Black and Latino Caucus, and Black Advisory Commission and Latino Advisory Commission.
“The new initiatives announced build upon the Administration’s efforts to promote opportunities for minority-owned businesses, and I thank the Governor and Lt. Governor for their focus on these important issues,” said Josie Martinez, Chair of the Latino Advisory Commission.
Since taking office in 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has focused on expanding opportunities for diverse business enterprises to work with state government and has increased direct spending on minority-business-enterprises by the Executive Branch by nearly $8 million.
The Administration has met and raised annual benchmarks, grown the supplier diversity program, and filed legislation in February 2020 to promote participation by minority and women-owned businesses in state construction projects.
Recently, the Administration also included $50.8 million in grants in its recently-launched economic recovery plan to support small minority-owned businesses in Massachusetts, which have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Legislation Filed:
“An Act to Elevate the Supplier Diversity Office to Ensure Equal Opportunity in State Contracting”.
