Secretary of State Robin Carnahan told minority-business leaders on August 23 that she will listen to their issues. But a common question from the audience was: will she take it to Congress?
About 40 St. Louis Minority Business Council members and small business owners listened to Carnahan’s pitch for the U.S. Senate seat at the council’s lecture series, featuring candidates running in the November election. World Wide Technology hosted the event.
One African-American business owner said he was concerned that government stimulus money is not getting in the hands of minority-owned businesses.
“The statistics of unemployment are the highest in the African-American community, and we are the hardest to receive capital,” said Kevin Savage, president and CEO of Logistical Resources Solutions. “How can you help us get some kind of share in government contracting?”
Carnahan said that she is aware of the reports that show minority-owned businesses “aren’t getting their fair share” of government contracts. Most of the federal money goes to the state governments, and people at the state level should be held accountable.
“The problem is that many minority-owned businesses or small businesses might not have the capital requirements that are put forth in some of these contracts. They might not have the bond capabilities. They might not have some of the equipment that is specified. Whatever it is. The question is what can we do to make folks be on some kind of level playing field to be able to compete?”
“I know that there were some innovative programs that were used on the Interstate 64 project to try to bring more minority participation into that. My understanding is that it worked pretty well. To me, what we should be thinking about is looking at some of these models that have worked.”