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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
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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.”