SACRAMENTO, August 2, 2007 –  Assemblymember Curren Price (D- Inglewood),  and his colleagues on the Assembly Select Committee on Procurement, facilitated the first in a series of public hearings to determine how the State of California can use its procurement process, and $43 billion dollars in infrastructure bonds approved by the voters last November, to strengthen, small business enterprises and ensure the economic growth and vitality of the state.  Yesterday, a room in the State Capitol was crowded with small business owners, organizations, advocacy groups and experts, to provide their testimony and experience on doing business with the State.  Mr. Will Bush, Director of The Department of General Services (DGS) and Mr. Will Kempton, Director of Caltrans, presented the State’s procurement perspective.

There are approximately 3.5 million small businesses in the state of California, representing 98% of California enterprises and employing 50% of the workforce. In his opening statement to the diverse group, Assemblymember Price said, “Small businesses drive the California economy and the state has a vested interest in encouraging the growth and development of small businesses.”   The informational hearing was designed to investigate issues that small businesses face in the procurement and contracting processes in order for the Select Committee to facilitate their increased participation.   

Executive Orders S-02-06 and S-11-06 set a 25% contracting and procurement goal for small and emerging businesses.  The Select Committee on Procurement is charged with developing viable strategies to fulfill that procurement and contracting goal.  Approximately 1 million small businesses may be eligible to contract with the state.  Currently, there are roughly 14,000 small businesses that are actually certified to receive state contracts.  “We know there are eligible businesses that want to take advantage of these opportunities,” said Price.  “It is incumbent upon this committee to ensure that impediments to their access are removed when possible.”   The next public hearing will be held on August 7, 2007, at Gardena City Hall, in Gardena, CA.

Assemblymember Curren Price serves the 51st Assembly District, which includes Inglewood, Hawthorne, Gardena, Playa Vista, Westchester, Lawndale, West Athens, Lennox, Alondra Park, West Compton, Del Aire, and Willowbrook, as well as portions of the unincorporated area of Ladera.