Fair
Share and Equal Access: Procurement
Advocacy
pending due diligence:
Class
Action Lawsuit Against Phoenix, Maricopa and Arizona: Fair Share and
Equal Access:
Procurement
Arizona Hispanic businesses are left out of Arizonas 6.5
billion dollar procurement. The governor has implemented policy
by Executive Order that any procurement up to $50,000 should
consider minority vendors. Three bids are required and one bid
must come from a minority or woman owned business. A token
act rather
than a
program of substance.
Of the 6.5
billion dollar annual Arizona procurement,
Hispanics in 2004 were awarded a
contemptibly small 2.5% or approximately
$162,500,000. Parity at 28% (The latest
figures of the size of the Hispanic
population in Arizona obtained November 2,
2005 from the US Census Bureau in Washington
DC) of all Arizona procurement should be
directed to Arizona Hispanics businesses.
28% or $1,820,000,000 can only be achieved
with approval from Arizona lawmakers who
control funds required for completing a
disparity study justifying a minority
procurement program.
Clearly Arizona's program is
lacking. The City of Phoenix also has its inadequacies as well
as Maricopa County.
In
early 2007, ALEC will publish
its preliminary assessment of the City of Phoenix's small
procurement program.
Conversations with city staff have
taken place in addition to the City providing written material.
ALEC is preparing a three part
presentation that will be provided to a small business meeting
early 2007 that will be presented to the City of Phoenix in
May.
Then ALEC will turn its focus on
the State of Arizona and Maricopa County.
At a later date, towns, cities,
colleges and universities procurement will be reviewed to
determine the level of procurement awarded to Hispanics.
What started as a look at Hispanic
participation in procurement has now been expanded to include
all ethnic minorities, women and small businesses. All will be
invited to participate in forums to evolve procurement
recommendations and establish the Phoenix Metro Small Business
Council.
Entrepreneurs
Are Born, But Can They be Taught
Incubator
American
Hispanic Business Development Center
