Legislation would help Georgia’s minority-owned transportation small businesses access competitive grant funding opportunities from bipartisan infrastructure law
Atlanta, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to boost opportunities for Georgia’s women- and minority-owned small businesses.
This week, Sen. Ossoff and Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the Small Business Contracting Fairness Act to help level the playing field for women- and minority-owned transportation small businesses and help them compete for funding opportunities through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Sen. Ossoff’s Small Business Contracting Fairness Act would amend the bipartisan infrastructure law to allow more Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) to qualify for Federally supported contracting opportunities and compete to build out critical infrastructure upgrades across Georgia.
“As we upgrade America’s infrastructure, Georgia’s small businesses have a vital role to play. My legislation with Congressman Hank Johnson will help ensure more women- and minority-owned small businesses in Georgia have the opportunity to secure infrastructure contracts,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“With the recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides USDOT with billions of new dollars, it’s more important than ever to ensure our DBEs are eligible to apply for these wide-ranging construction contracts,” said Rep. Johnson, a senior member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “In order to address past and ongoing discrimination in federal contracting, we must pass this bill. I appreciate Senator Ossoff picking up the mantle in the Senate.”
“Atlanta elected Mayor Maynard Jackson 50 years ago and he championed minority and women participation in public sector business. There is work that still remains to remove barriers to ensure equity for all small, minority and women-owned businesses. The Small Business Contracting Fairness Act will expand inclusiveness and equity in federal contracting, and I thank Senator Ossoff and Congressman Johnson for their leadership with this vital legislation,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.
Key business groups are backing Sen. Ossoff and Rep. Johnson’s new bill, including the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council and Urban League of Greater Atlanta.
“The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) is grateful to Senator Ossoff and Congressman Johnson for their support of the Small Business Contract Fairness Act. Their leadership in this critical area is crucial to the economic vitality of the small business community, not just in Georgia, but all across the nation,” said Stacey Key of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council. “As the state of Georgia’s leading advocate for minority supplier inclusion in government and corporate supply chains, we wholeheartedly endorse this effort to stimulate the real engine of the American economy, by ensuring full inclusion of small businesses in federal contracting. My team and I stand ready to assist as this bill moves forward. Georgia is fortunate to have such visionary leadership at this pivotal moment in history.”
“The Urban League of Greater Atlanta enthusiastically endorses the Small Business Contract Fairness Act introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff and Congressman Hank Johnson because we believe in its potential for expanding opportunities for minority entrepreneurs who are the backbone of economic advancement in communities of color,” said Nancy Flake Johnson, ULGA’s president and CEO. “Promoting economic opportunity through small business ownership has been a core mission of the Urban League for more than 100 years. We are grateful to our elected representatives for their commitment to strengthening communities and leveling the playing field for small business owners.”
Sen. Ossoff continues to advocate for small businesses across Georgia and the strengthening of their access to the marketplace.
Last month, On the 2-year anniversary of the bipartisan infrastructure law, Sen. Ossoff announced the State of Georgia would receive over $1.8 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 to upgrade roads, bridges, highways, and other surface transportation systems through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Last month, Sen. Ossoff also delivered $749,896 through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to Spelman College as part of the Center for Black Entrepreneurship Launch Incubator for Traction (CBE LIFT) project.
Earlier this year, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock brought Republicans and Democrats in Congress together to deliver new resources to the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce (GABCC) to boost entrepreneurship across the Central Savannah River Area.
Click aquí to read the Small Business Contracting Fairness Act.
# # #
