Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 30, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Pledges Continued Support for Small and Minority-owned Businesses at State-sponsored Forum

Gov. Gary Locke today told small and minority-owned business owners that he is committed to helping them further succeed in Washington state. Locke delivered the opening remarks at the Washington State Diversity Business Symposium at North Seattle Community College.

“I am committed to small businesses,” Locke said. “It’s extremely important that our state offer opportunities for small businesses. I am also committed to diversity. The strength of our state and our nation comes from our diversity of people, cultures and religions. It’s also extremely important that our state offer equal opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses.”

The Governor’s Office and the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) co-sponsored the symposium, along with the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, the Governor’s Commission on African American Affairs, the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs and the state Office of Minority and Women-owned Businesses. The City of Seattle was also represented at the event.

The goal of the symposium was to provide information and opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses regarding contracting with state and local governments. About 150 small and minority business owners attended the event.

The symposium educated the small and minority-owned business community about the state contract procurement process and how to learn of procurement opportunities. It also provided an opportunity for procurement officers from many state and local agencies to meet small and minority business owners and discuss their procurement processes, practices and opportunities.

The business owners learned about various sources of capital, such as the Linked Deposit Program, that may help them grow and reach a critical minimum size for state and local procurement opportunities. They also learned about technical assistance available from the federal, state and local governments. A luncheon panel discussed issues facing small and minority-owned businesses in Washington state.

The state’s record of procurement to minority and women-owned businesses has declined in recent years, falling from 7.2 percent in 1998 to 1.5 percent in 2002.

“Given the alarming trend, it’s clear that we need to take action to increase minority and women-owned business contracts with the state,” Locke told the business owners. “We want to see the trend reversed. We want to see an increase in the number of minority and women-owned businesses certified. We want to see more of you contacted by state agencies as procurement opportunities arise.”

Several legislators participated in the symposium, including Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle; Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle; Rep. Velma Veloria, D-Seattle; and Rep. John McCoy, D-Marysville. Also attending were Martha Choe, director of CTED; Wendy Holden, deputy director of CTED; Conrad Lee, Region X administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration; and Jill Nishi, director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development.

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