By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-888664.mp3
Albany, NY – Minority And Women Business Enterprise Awareness day was held Tuesday in Albany: Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
Leaders and lobbyists assembled at the Capitol, calling for greater economic opportunity for minority-and-women-owned businesses across the New York State. The M-W-B-E coalition is a broad, statewide group that counts among its ranks business owners, community leaders, nonprofits, trade associations and ordinary citizens.
At Tuesday's gathering, there was a push to raise awareness about pending legislation - a push highlighted by a late afternoon press conference. Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Chairwoman of the Assembly Sub-Committee on Oversight of MWBE, says that the reform of Article 15-A and the passage and implementation of the emerging manager legislation will only increase access to resources and opportunities. The MWBE Coalition's legislative goals include funding an Economic Development Grant to develop MWBE capacity in partnership with NYS Fortune 500 corporations.
M-W-B-E's traditionally have found difficulty in securing capital and taking advantage of business opportunities, especially in today's challenging economy. Legislative reforms supported by the MWBE Coalition would give New York State arguably the most progressive MWBE policy framework in the country and bring New York up to par with eight other states which have passed similar legislation.