Posted: | March 19, 2021 11:14 AM |
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From: | Representative James B. Struzzi, II and Rep. Jim Rigby |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Helping Disadvantaged Communities in Pennsylvania |
In the near future, we will be introducing legislation that if enacted will help disadvantaged communities by bringing geographic equity and diversity to the procurement process in Pennsylvania. This legislation would ensure that opportunity for our hardest hit urban and rural local economies in Pennsylvania by requiring that businesses located in HUB Zones would be entitled to a minimum of 40% participation in procurement contracts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. This legislation will mirror the federal program at the state level and help pull those communities and businesses out of economic distress and create more equity in procurement across the commonwealth. There has long been a push by the Commonwealth to ensure diversity preference in procurement matters. This legislation will also ensure geographic diversity in state procurement matters and our poorest communities - both urban and rural - can be part of this inclusion. This legislation will have direct impact on improving the quality of life in communities like Indiana, Johnstown and many others while helping more small business owners and their employees live the American dream. This is a map of Hub Zones in Pennsylvania: https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map#center=37.912397,-79.814852&zoom=5 Please join us in sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1712