St. Louis’ government and corporate leaders often pay lip service to the importance of diversity and inclusion. But when the deal’s on the table, do they follow through? In the past few years, the minority business community has had plenty of reasons to wonder.
In 2012, the city government’s St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) allowed Ballpark Village developers – who are benefitting from city tax dollars – to build about $23 million in retail construction without monitoring how many minority businesses and workers were working on the site. SLDC made this deal despite St. Louis city’s laws that enforce minority inclusion on taxpayer-backed projects.
In December 2012, minority business leaders fought CORTEX to make sure minority participation requirements were a part of the bioresearch park’s $168 million tax-incentive package.
After minority business advocates refused to back down in 2011, the Metropolitan Sewer District adopted interim inclusion goals before embarking on $4.7 billion in reconstruction in 2012.
“What I see happening now – there is at least a conversation about diversity,” said Yaphett El-Amin, executive director of MOKAN, a minority business advocacy organization. “Now, let’s have that talk mean something. It means something when you quantify it with dollar and cents, with real people and companies.”
On May 9 at the Union Station Hotel, MOKAN will host “Bridging Rhetoric to Reality,” a symposium that will bring together public, private and non-profit industry stakeholders and minority business owners. The main focus is expanding capacity-building opportunities for minority businesses in the region.
For years, St. Louis city has had laws that attempt to ensure minority inclusion on projects using taxpayer money. However, Nicole Adewale, principal and president of ABNA Engineering, said the commitment to meeting these standards in St. Louis pales in comparison to other cities.
“In general, St. Louis doesn’t seem to have it as a priority, as a culture, compared to Atlanta and Washington, D.C.,” said Adewale, who will be a panelist on the Power Panel Luncheon at the symposium.
And that sentiment stems from public and private institutions often saying, “We can’t find anyone,” she said.
“People say that we don’t have the capacity,” said El-Amin. “If that is the reality, what are we doing to build it and develop opportunities for minority businesses to partner and strengthen relationships with other industry partners? The symposium is a step in the direction.”
In St. Louis County, Councilwoman Hazel Erby is currently trying to pass legislation that would amend a 2012 bill (#289) passed that limits minority businesses from bidding on county government contracts. The bill states that bidders must “maintain their own Department of Labor-approved apprentice program.” Union contractors are often the only ones that meet this requirement.
Restricting non-union contractors from bidding on county projects also restricts minority-owned general or prime contractors. Additionally, the bill forbids independent contractors from county construction worksites, specifically those who are self-employed. Most African-American truckers who own their own trucks operate as “independent contractors” and thus are forbidden from working on county worksites.
Tim Person, president of Person & Associates and a partner in the symposium, said Erby’s amendment to Bill 289 will level the playing field for minority businesses.
“When you take into consideration that most of minority business owners live in St. Louis County, they are taxpayers, they should have a fair opportunity to participate in St. Louis County contracts,” Person said. “It’s been proven that without the inclusion programs, minorities and women don’t get a chance to participate. It’s so important that everybody has an opportunity.”
Adewale said one of the biggest barriers for minority businesses is establishing “genuine relationships.” On a macro level, the construction industry often operates on relationships – and not always for the best value, she said.
“The entity is often going to choose the one they are familiar with,” she said. “Any level of exposure and access to decision makers can make a difference.”
Glenda White, CEO of Medi-Plex Health Professionals and a certified nurse, started her own home health care business 15 years ago. She said she owns the only minority business enterprise (MBE) in Missouri that offers home hospice care.
“Health care is an industry where minorities are a small group,” said White, who is also panelist at the luncheon session. “We need more minorities in the medical field. Minorities should take more leadership roles.”
In her experience, minorities often shy away from management positions, and management is an important step towards starting a business.
The symposium will address inclusion issues in the region, as well as host workshops on access to capital, new business growth opportunities, and business development and marketing trends.
For more information, visit www.mokansymposium.com or call 314-454-9675. Registration opens on May 8 followed by a networking event, and workshops begin on May 9.
