SBA Update Small Business Contract Dollars—U.S. small businesses received a record $69.23 billion in federal prime contracts last year, almost 6 percent greater than the previous high, according to a report from the Federal Procurement Data Center. The contracts represented 23.09 percent of the $299.9 billion federal prime contracting dollars in fiscal year 2004.
Small disadvantaged businesses surpassed their 5 percent goal, registering 6.18 percent of total federal prime contracting dollars with $18.54 billion in prime contracts. Participants in the SBA’s 8(a) program received $8.44 billion in contracts, or 2.8 percent of that total. Contracts through the HUBZone program increased by 40 percent, to $4.78 billion. The dollars to women-owned businesses increased by $814.6 million to $9.1 billion, about 3 percent of the total. Contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses reached $1.15 billion, up from $550 million in fiscal year 2003. To see the full report, visit www.sba.gov/GC/goals/Goaling-Report-08-21-2005.pdf.
Blunt Creates Office of Supplier Diversity Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt signed an executive order creating the Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity and implementing programs to increase Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) participation in state contracts. He appointed Donna White as director of the new office.
The programs correct a flawed initiative, which was suspended because of a legal challenge and subsequent injunction. The office will assist in the coordination and implementation of the new MBE/WBE programs. Under the new programs, state agencies will continue to make an effort to participate at 10 percent MBE and 5 percent WBE. In the Office of Administration’s Division of Purchasing and Materials Management, vendors will be required to include MBE/WBE participation information in their contract proposals, and MBE/WBE will be a significant factor in a contract bid.
Three New Enhanced Enterprise Zones The Missouri Department of Economic Development has approved three areas for the Enhanced Enterprise Zone designation, expanding the geographic coverage in which the program can be used to help create jobs and spur private investment throughout the city. The first one covers the Northland, including part of the city of Kansas City and portions of Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties. The second zone will cover the midtown area to Richards Gebaur, including parts of Kansas City located in Jackson and Cass Counties. The third zone will encompass areas in Jackson Country from midtown and eastward. The zones will have a 25-year lifespan. Eligible businesses that locate in the new zones can receive state tax credits based on job creation and investment for up to 10 years.
Hispanic Chamber Selects President The Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board of directors has selected Miguel Meneses as its new president, replacing Cici Rojas. Meneses has been with Riojas Enterprises for the past 10 years as manager of human resources. He has been a member of the chamber for 10 years, serving on the board for the past five years and was interim executive director in 1994. Meneses plans to emphasize stronger membership services for existing corporate, small business and individual members of the chamber.
GO Connection Director Resigns Alan Corbet, executive director of the Growth Opportunity Connection (GO Connection) has resigned but remains involved with the organization as a resource during the transition. Corbet had been with GO Connection since 1996, serving as executive director since 2000. Under his leadership, GO Connection added the Missouri Women’s Business Center in 2000 and the Topeka Community Micro-Lending project in 2002.
United Way Volunteers Set Goal United Way Volunteers have kicked off the 2005 Kansas City area fundraising campaign, unveiling a $38.5 million goal. The campaign will continue for 10 weeks, wrapping up with a victory luncheon at Overland Park Convention Center on Nov. 17. United Way helps fund nearly 350 programs in health and human services in the community. Organizations Rally to Help Katrina Victims NAWBO Website—The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development and a coalition of business organizations have launched www.womenbizrelief.com to assist women entrepreneurs affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Web site encourages donations of housing, equipment and employment from woman entrepreneurs to assist those women business owners affected by the hurricane. The Web site’s goal is to become a clearinghouse for resources that are needed to help emerging businesses.
WIPP Mobilization—Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), a bi-partisan women’s business group, is helping small businesses affected by Hurricane Katrina stay in business. Its members are sharing information and volunteering office space and business services.
Local Support—Kansas City Small Business Monthly is posting a clearinghouse of hurricane relief efforts. If you’re interested in helping out, visit www.kcsmallbiz.com to see how small business is responding to the disaster in the Gulf states area. Please e-mail
to have your organization included on the growing list of Hurricane Katrina local relief efforts.
HBC Changes Name The Home Business Connection board of directors has renamed the organization the Small and Home Business Connection (SHBC) to better reflect that it serves both the home business and small business segments of Kansas City. Visit hbckc.org for more information.
KCADC Names Co-Chair The Kansas City Area Development Council board of directors has appointed Greg Graves, president and CEO of Burns & McDonnell, as its board co-chairman for a two-year term. Graves succeeds Tom Bowser, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. Graves will share the co-chairmanship with Kevin Barth, president and COO of Commerce Bank, who will act as senior co-chairperson. Both men will help to guide KCADC’s business recruiting initiatives and efforts to draw increased wealth, jobs and corporate investment to the greater Kansas City area. They will focus largely on attracting life sciences, distribution, warehousing and manufacturing operations to the 18-county region.
MED Week Celebration Kansas City celebrates its 23rd Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week with several activities, including the kick off on October 4 with the minority business networking breakfast at 7:15 at the Clarion Sports Complex. Following breakfast is the complimentary purchasing agents business bus tour, which is designed to offer purchasing representatives an opportunity to meet with owners of minority-owned businesses to evaluate vendor capacity and products and services. The Buyer/Supplier Forum, featuring “The Basics of Contracting: An Introduction for Suppliers,” takes place on October 5, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Westin Crown Center. The MED Week Awards program and dinner is on October 6 at the Westin Crown Center. Chamber Day at the Kansas Speedway closes the MED Week events on Friday, October 7. For information on MED Week activities, call (816) 513-6817.
