Virginia is for Lovers, right? Then how is it possible that over a four-year period, our Commonwealth spent over $9 billion on goods and services and out of the $9 billion only 3% was awarded to businesses owned by women and minorities?
Women-owned businesses are under-utilized by Commonwealth of Virginia agencies. This was first proven in the Department of Minority Business Enterprise’s 2004 study. The same conclusions were determined again after the DMBE conducted another study in 2011. Both of these independent studies revealed that women-owned businesses get the least amount of business revenue from Virginia government organizations for goods and services.
Is it that there are not enough women-owned businesses that want to do work with Virginia government?
Most definitely not. A National Economic Council Report from 2010 showed that women own 30 percent of all privately held U.S. small businesses, and female business ownership grew by 44 percent during a ten-year stretch from 1997 to 2007.
Are there no women-owned businesses qualified to sell their goods and services to Virginia government?
Completely false. Roughly 206,000 women-owned businesses would love to have the work!
So, what gives?
Virginia’s government agencies are encouraged, but not required, to meet “utilization targets.” Small, women, and minority owned businesses are just that: targets to be aimed at, but not actively hit. And even more surprisingly, although we are far beyond the strictly housewife stereotype, there are still many people who believe that female-owned businesses are actually run by their husbands because a woman cannot successfully run a company. (Insert cringe here!)
Woman-owned businesses are not asking for special treatment, but simply a level playing field that allows for the same opportunities of obtaining business.
How can YOU help to level the playing field? Well, glad you asked!
Introduced by Senator Donald McEachin, SB 651 is a bill that has been passed by the Virginia Senate, but still needs to be passed by the House of Delegates. This bill directly addresses the need to stop treating women-owned businesses as targets and makes the Governor, as well as all Virginia government organizations, ensure that women-owned businesses receive a fair and equitable portion of goods and services purchased by the state government. SB 651 fixes the problem of requiring government agencies to have programs and plans in place to use women-owned businesses. As it stands, there are unnecessary requirements in place that have no actual bearing on a company’s ability to deliver great goods and services that in turn prevent small, women and minority owned businesses from bidding on work. Some contracts require that a company who bids on a project must have revenues over $50 million to even qualify. This is absurd!
Our legislators need to hear a loud and proud message that female business owners need to be treated fairly and have the same opportunities as the big guys! Help us tell them!
Send a message to all members of the House of Delegates on the General Law’s Committee and show them that Virginia is for lovers of equal business opportunity!
Jones(chair): DelCJones@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1076
Laquinto (vice-chair): DelSIaquinto@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1084
Albo: DelDAlbo@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1042
Wright: DelTWright@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1061
Gilbert: DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1015
Peace: DelCPeace@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1097
Anderson: DelRAnderson@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1051
Greason: DelTGreason@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1032
Knight: DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1061
LeMunyon: DelJLeMunyon@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1067
Cox, J: DelJCox@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1055
Helsel: DelGHelsel@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1091
Farrell: DelPFarrell@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1056
Watson: DelMWatson@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1093
Rush: DelNRush@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1007
Ward: DelJWard@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1092
Dance: DelRDance@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1063
Bulova: DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1037
James: DelMJames@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1080
Carr: DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1069
McQuinn: DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov , or phone (804) 698-1070
Torian: DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov, or phone (804) 698-1052
