Minority & Small Business Week
Page 36
September 26, 2012
Drawing More Business
from Minority Firms
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c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 2
701 N E B ro a d w a y A v e
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with the school district,” said
Superintendent Carole Smith.
Policy goals include increas
ing district contracting dollars
spent with women- and minor
ity -o w n e d b u sin e sse s and
emerging small businesses.- Like
wise, the district hopes to see
greater numbers of student mi
norities engaging in career learn
ing opportunities and programs.
“This is about equity and ac
cess for qualified professionals,”
said Martin Gonzalez, school
board chairman.
The equity policy intends to
boost the number of women and
minorities in the construction
trades through the school ap
prenticeships on district construc
tion contracts.
Representatives from the Or
egon Association of Minority
Entrepreneurs, National Asso
ciation of Minority Contractors,
the H isp a n ic M e tro p o lita n
Chamber, Portland Workforce
Alliance and the Coalition of
Clack Men also testified in favor
of the policy.
“The implementation of this
policy is key to success,” Gale
Castillo, president of the His
panic M etropolitan Chamber,
told the board. “I would encour
age you to focus on communities
of color and women.”
According to Elaine Holt, pro
gram director of PPS Purchas
ing and Contracting, under the
new policy, the goal of contract
ing with more minority- and
women-owned firms and emerg
ing small businesses will now be
among key criteria when the
district is looking to hire contrac-
The implementation o f this
policy is key to success. I would
encourage you to focus on
communities o f color and women.
— Gale Castillo, president of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
James Posey, former chair
man of the National Association
for Minority Contractors and
former president of the Coalition
of Black Men, called the policy
“a real anchor in this community
in terms of equity” and an oppor
tunity to go beyond what other
institutions have done.
tors.
The school district considers
several priorities when selecting
the best contractor for a job,
Holt said. “Bidding price and the
firm ’s track record are always
considerations and now diversi
fying our contractor base will be
as well.”
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