Program Helps Small Businesses Get Contracts

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has signed an executive directive to launch a program designed to make it easier for small businesses to attain city contracts. The Business Inclusion Program provides city departments with concrete goals to increase the number of small-, women-, minority- and disabled veteran-owned businesses that participate in city contracting. Goals of the program including ensuring all business have an equal access to city contract opportunities, promoting outreach to potential sub-contractors through the city’s electronic business network, and ensuring accountability through annual contracting goals. The city’s Business Assistance Virtual Network will serve as the central hub for contract opportunity postings and for communication regarding the contracts. “For the first time ever, my office has made specific recommendations to city departments for contracting goals and has created a system rooted in transparency and accountability,” Villaraigosa said, adding that it us also the first program that specifically addresses the business needs of veterans. The mayor recommended city contracting goals be set at 25 percent for small businesses—with eight percent of that going to emerging businesses—and three percent for disabled veteran-owned businesses. City department leaders will be held accountable for achieving those goals and will be required to provide quarterly progress reports, which will be made available at losangelesworks.com. Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner said the new program will help businesses in the city. “The Business Inclusion Program will make it easier for prime contractors to connect with small businesses, and help small businesses have access to more contracts—a win-win for everyone,” he said. Jessica Vernabe