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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 24, 2015)
Page 4 Diversity in the Workplace June 24, 2015 County Budget Fights Disparities Multnomah County Commis- sioner Loretta Smith is applauding passage of a new county budget that increases support for families in crisis and fights economic dis- parities. The fiscal year 2016 budget was approved last week and rep- resents the county’s most aggres- sive interventions against poverty and socioeconomic disparities, Smith said. Citing the leadership of Chair Deborah Kafoury, she added “Your beliefs and care for the people of Multnomah County are boldly enshrined in this bud- get.” Smith won a budget amend- ment to fund a Promise Neigh- borhoods Initiative for $2 million, a $1 million increase for a new and unprecedented investment in youth and families in crisis with an assortment of wraparound ser- vices in an effort to create stron- ger, sustainable communities. “We can’t be timid in address- ing epidemics that are leaving families destitute and hopeless,” said Smith,” especially in commu- nities where those disparities are sometimes two and three fold.” Smith also cited approval of $500,000 to support a Portland Development Commission initia- Loretta Smith tive that will launch an inclusive start-up fund focused on mentor- ing and access to early-stage cap- ital for Portland based firms with diverse founding teams; $250,000 to support individuals experienc- ing mental health crises and the expansion of affordable housing units; and $75,000 expansion of a senior hunger initiative at cultur- ally specific meal sites to provide meals five days a week “We’ve accomplished some great things here today to help individuals and families in need. This is the reason I get up every morning – to advocate and assist the residents of Multnomah Coun- ty,” said Smith. Rep. Lew Frederick of Portland and other supporters of a new minority contracting law join Oregon Gov. Kate Brown for a signing ceremony in the governor’s office. Minority Contracting Bill Signed Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com Oregon has two new laws to protect the integrity of programs that provide access to public con- tracts for minority-owned, wom- en-owned and emerging small businesses. Gov. Kate Brown signed House Bill 2716 last week requir- ing a firm that uses MWESB cer- tification as part of an application for a contract to maintain that certification for the entire term of the contract. The bill was spon- sored by Rep. Lew Frederick of Portland. The second law, Senate Bill 584 allows agencies that detect fraud in using these programs to take enforcement actions. “Minority contractors are just looking for an opportunity to grow their businesses by landing and performing work,” Frederick said. “These bills give us some tools to make sure these programs do what they were meant to do.”
