Rep. Wheatley Continues Minority-Owned Business Hearing

A state representative is continuing to assist minority- and women-owned businesses by talking with prime contractors to improve communications and relationships with one another. Representative Jake Wheatley is Chairman of the House Select Committee on Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Inclusion. Synterra Ltd. CEO Myrna Toro says disadvantaged business owners are a misunderstood sector to those in the mainstream, but they are a valuable asset. She adds that these business owners deserve to get contractors based on their own merit, and not because of a quota. Gibane Building Company Manager Andrew Notarfrancesco says minority- and women-owned businesses face additional challenges. In particular, there are financial, procedural, and current supply firm challenges. House Select Committee on Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Inclusion, which the House adopted in March, is to focus on understanding barriers to participation and to remedy those issues.