Friday, May 16, 2014

Early Migrants were Native Americans - New Findings

The Wall Street Journal reports ..A unique genetic marker exhumed from her 12,000-year-old skeleton offers evidence that the first hunter-gatherers who crossed the Bering Sea from northeast Asia on a now-submerged territory called Beringia belonged to the same population group as many Native Americans today, the scientists said.

http://on.wsj.com/1gysmNs

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Second Language helps Rational Thinking?

The Wall Street Journal reports httabout a recent study that thinking about a problem in a foreign language might help a person analyze the problem more rationally. It appears by thinking of the problem in a second language we isolate the emotion from the decision and so you get a more rational picture of the situation. Hmm...let me try it out in my basic knowledge of another language - hum sochta es blog tik hai or nai - kya karega. I am just seeing blank empty spaces in my mind with the words standing out....maybe there is some truth to this...try it yourself...
http://on.wsj.com/1f8DEBA
" 'Piensa' Twice: On the Foreign Language Effect in Decision Making," Albert Costa, Alice Foucart, Inbal Arnon, Melina Aparici and Jose Apesteguia, Cognition (February)

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

My Testimony to the MN legislature

Today I invited legislators to view our ALANA communities as assets. I presented the economic portfolio of the ALANA communities and encouraged them to leverage our massive public spending to grow the ALANA economic portfolio - reflected in such data as - $12 billion in consumer power; firms that as a group would be the 15th largest company in terms of revenue (over $5 billion) and 9th largest in terms of employment (over 40,000 with an annual payroll of over $1 billion). Minnesota is doing a lot of good things but to be doing great things we need to view our ALANA communities not as deficits but as assets. The testimony can be found on my site
http://www.ethniccapital.com/uploads/1/2/2/9/12297431/testimony_to_government_operations_committee_minnesota_house.pdf




Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Online Marketplaces and Racial Discrimination

 New Harvard research show online marketplaces like Airbnb inadvertently fuel racial discrimination." Analyzing a data set that focuses on New York City (the company's biggest market), the researchers found that black hosts charged approximately 12 percent less for rentals than nonblack hosts—even when the properties were equivalent in terms of location and quality." The research raises some interesting questions on linking your Facebook page to online sites, importance of profile pictures and the placement of these pictures, policies on online marketplaces that might inadvertently promote racial discrimination. 

"But the "pricing" section of the website advises that new hosts set rates with market demand in mind. For example, Airbnb tells new hosts they "may want to charge lower than average rates to attract travelers comparing your place with existing reviews. Once you have a review or two, adjust your rates as needed."
The researchers interpret black hosts' lower prices as evidence of a similar, but permanent, disadvantage. In particular, they maintain that their findings show how black hosts have a harder than average time attracting travelers, and therefore must keep their prices lower than average in order to compete successfully."
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7435.html

Monday, February 24, 2014

New Report Provides Details of North Minneapolis Housing Conditions

A detailed neighborhood analysis of housing conditions in North Minneapolis done by the Minneapolis Fed provides a good picture on the opportunities and challenges there. Overall the report found: "the housing market in North Minneapolis varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and even from block to block. In general, the housing market in the northwest area of North Minneapolis is more established while the southeast area’s is more vulnerable; however, many of the
neighborhoods register a diverse “micro” housing market, with blocks falling on the
entire HMI spectrum"
. During 2006 to 2012 houses in North Minneapolis dropped on average by more than a third. View the report at http://www.minneapolisfed.org/pubs/cdpapers/hmi_2013.pdf

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Baseball offers an intriguing strategy to overcome racist behaviors

Baseball offers an intriguing strategy to overcome racist behaviors. A Harvard study found that when umpires and pitchers were of a different race the umpire was more likely to call a pitch a ball -which favors the batter. Pitchers seem to compensate for this discrimination by throwing the ball in areas where there was less of a subjective reading - even though it lessened their effectiveness!

Another intriguing observation of the study was when cameras were present to record the events these discriminatory behaviors vanished. Ah! The lessons we can learn from baseball!
The study can be found at  http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7392.html


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Nearly 2 million deported in recent years

The Economist  reports that almost 2 million people have been deported in recent years, 322,900 last year alone. The article describes the cruel and heartless way people are deported and the huge human cost of this policy. This in essence has been our immigration policy over the past few years - deportations.

It is time fix our broken and dysfunctional immigration system.

For a new framework to look at immigration see my app "Immigrant Capital" on iTunes and Google Play or a recent report on Minnesota http://bit.ly/HEZJy1.

http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21595891-united-states-expulsion-policy-toward-migrants-carries-big-human-cost-bordering-cruelty



Wednesday, February 05, 2014

New Health Equity report needs policy attention

The new MDH report on health equity spares no punches and lays out a policy agenda which I hope becomes part of the 2014 election cycle. I do hope the Governor and legislature takes action too. This information is not new - members of the community have been asking for equal access and culturally competent health care for a long time. Thanks to Larry Walker and the Bridges network for bringing this report to our attention. http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/healthequity/ahe_leg_report_020114.pdf

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Why has St. Paul not fully recovered from the Great Recession while Minneapolis has?

Intriguing question posed by the latest DEED report on progress in Minnesota Cities? One answer could be all that romance in the air being the top romantic city in the US? Seriously - it is a good question because I see it in the growth patterns of minority businesses too. I am looking for more insights from DEED and local experts.

The DEED report is at http://mn.gov/deed/images/top25cities.pdf

Monday, January 27, 2014

Immigrant Earning Power over $1 trillion in USA

 Equal to the GDP of 17th largest country in the world. See free itunes app - Immigrant Capital. #iamimmigration, #immigration

Sunday, January 26, 2014

New free Itunes App - Immigrant Capital

Looking for a comprehensive framework to analyze the immigration debate today - which all too often focuses on one dimensional arguments? Want data on the economic contributions of immigrants  by state at your fingertips? Check out my new APP called "Immigrant Capital" available on itunes for the iphone and the ipad. http://bit.ly/1du2jym

An android version will be available soon.

Immigrant capital - immigrants as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, taxpayers, social capital, cultural capital, global trade networks.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Thank You Fr. Kevin - Today in Pioneer Press

Sainted
We are blessed to have Fr. Kevin McDonough as our family pastor at St. Peter Claver Church in St. Paul.
My experience parallels others in the parish and in the community. In times of personal tragedy, he soothed our aching hearts, opened doors for us and lifted up our spirits.
Our children love him. He celebrates their spirit and achievements whenever he gets the opportunity to do so. He truly is their spiritual "Father," and we trust him.
I greatly appreciate the way he relates to immigrants like me: He celebrates our identity, breaks bread with us and our families, and teaches us ways to be successful in Minnesota.
I have never seen someone address racial justice and equity so effectively -- he celebrates his own identity while working tirelessly to break down barriers that inhibit immigrants and minorities from achieving the American dream.
I have also seen him use whatever power he has to open doors for those without that access to power and resources.
I have seen him deal with difficult situations with courage and fairness while upholding the dignity of others.
My parents visited from India many years ago, and they still remember how much he blessed their lives. 
He reminds me of the early church leaders at the dawn of Christianity who walked "humbly with their God all the days of their lives."
Thank you, Fr. Kevin.
Bruce Corrie, St. Paul

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Undocumented Students Value to the MN Economy - $1 billion

It has been reported in the media that fewer than 500 undocumented students would take advantage of the in-state tuition waiver for these students.

Here is a quick estimate of the value of 250 students with an Associate degree and 250 students with a Bachelor's degree using the Census estimate of the lifetime value of a degree:

I estimate that these 500 students will bring $1billion in new earnings to the Minnesota economy over their lifetime. ($1.8 million is the lifetime earnings of a Associate's degree; $2.4 million for a Bachelor's degree)

If we assume they pay the average 11.5 percent tax as the "average citizen" of the MN Tax Incidence Study, then the state can look at a lifetime tax revenue of $121 million.

Legislators - please note. 

 

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Transformation of University Avenue by Immigrant Entrepreneurs

The new report updates the 2005 study to bring a thirty year perspective on the six block stretch of University Avenue in Saint Paul.

,,the avenue continues to be an incubator for immigrant entrepreneurship. The area is becoming increasingly multi-ethnic with a growing presence of African immigrant and African American entrepreneurs. There is also a constant churning in the sectors these businesses operate. These entrepreneurs start businesses to take advantage of economic trends which also make their survival tied to these same trends – for example the housing boom and bust. We noted in many entrepreneurs a sense of pessimism as a declining economy has hurt their bottom line and considerable anxiety over light rail construction.  This was a sharp contrast to our report in 2005 where we found a greater optimism on the avenue, reflected in business expansion and diversification beyond the avenue. 

The report was profiled in a story in the Pioneer Press

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

New Website on Ethnic Capital

Visit the new website - The Dynamic Potential of Ethnic Capital where you will find the latest data on the economic and other contributions of immigrants and minorities in the USA and Minnesota.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Minority Babies Now Majority

Fox 9 News on Minority Trends

At the link you will find a Fox 9 story on the latest news that minority babies are now the majority....a "back to the future" moment for me. We have to look at these new Americans as America's future - what we invest in them will determine America's role in the future global economy. Do we want them to be the best skilled, most innovative and creative talent pool? Do we want them to live in a world free of racial and other barriers to personal progress? The choice is ours! www.ethniccapital.com

Sunday, March 04, 2012

ALANA Capital

In this feature of The Line read about the concept of ALANA Capital - a new way to look at the dynamic potential of ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) communities in Minnesota.

Friday, December 02, 2011

ALANA Firms in Minneapolis

There are over 5000 ALANA firms in Minneapolis with $1.3 billion in revenue. There are over 700 employer firms employing over 10,000 people with an annual payroll of $326 million. (Source: Survey of Business Owners, 2007). I shared this information at the OneMinneapolis conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center today.

ALANA Buying Power $ 2.4 billion in Minneapolis

ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) buying power is an estimated $2.4 billion in Minneapolis. The ethnic economy can be a powerful engine of economic growth in Minneapolis. I shared this information at the OneMinneapolis conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center today.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Islamic LIBOR rate launched

The Wall Street Journal reported the launch of an new financial benchmark rate akin to LIBOR that follows the principles of Islamic finance called the Islamic Interbank Benchmark Rate (IIBR). In the past Islamic financial institutions used the LIBOR.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204443404577054150155788364.html?KEYWORDS=islamic+libor

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

BLACK FIRM - RAPID GROWTH IN MN, 2007

Data released (February 8, 2011) by the Survey of Business Owners, 2007 as part of the Economic Census reveals the rapid growth of Black firms in Minnesota. There were 12, 454 Black firms in Minnesota, 617 of which had employees with receipts of $917 million and employing 10,746 people with an annual payroll of $258 million.

Most of these firms had receipts less than $50,000. There were 265 firms with receipts greater than $500,000 with 118 of the firms having receipts over a million dollars.

The top five sectors were: Health Care and Social Assistance, followed by Transportation and Warehousing, Professional and Technical Services, Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services and Retail Trade. The top sectors in terms of receipts were Retail, Administrative Support and Waste Management and Remediation, Health Care and Social Assistance and Professional and Technical Services. The top sectors in terms of employment were Health Care and Social Assistance, Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation followed by Accommodation and Food Services. These three sectors plus Information were the largest in terms of annual payroll.

Between 2002 and 2007 the number of Black firms in Minnesota grew by 58.9% compared to 12 percent for all firms in Minnesota. During the same period receipts grew by 34.5 percent.

9.7 percent of all firms in Minneapolis were Black Firms. 5.2 percent of all firms in Hennepin County were Black firms. Minneapolis ranked 29th for the number of Black firms out of 50 of the largest cities in the country. Hennepin County ranked 36th for the number of Black firms out of 50 of the largest counties in the country.

For more information please visit http://ethnictrends.info/MarketResearch.html.

Friday, February 04, 2011

Black Firms - Largest Minority Group of Firms in MN

Black Firms were the largest group of minority firms in Minnesota. There were 12,454 Black firms in Minnesota in2007. The number of Black firms grew by 59 percent between 2002 and 2007 (compared to 12 percent for all firms in Minnesota) according to preliminary estimates from the Survey of Business Owners. These firms had receipts close to a billion dollars and employed almost 5000 people in Minnesota.

Nationally there are almost 2 million Black firms in the United States with an estimated $137 billion in sales.

The Survey of Business Owners is expected present a complete report of Black firms in Minnesota next week.

Black Talent in Rural MN

According to this user friendly site http://chronicle.com/article/Adults-With-College-Degrees-in/125995/:
The percentage of Blacks with a Bachelor's degree was higher than the state and national average for Blacks and higher than the white percentage in the following counties: Cass, Todd, Carlton, Kanabec, Isanti, McLeod, Carver, (Washington), Nicollet, Dodge, Pipestone, Rock, Nobles and Jackson. There is a small Black population in these areas but as the data shows - relatively higher human capital.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Latino Businesses - Rapid Growth in Hennepin County

Latino Firms – Rapid engine of growth in Hennepin County Bruce P. Corrie, PhD Professor of Economics, Concordia University www.ethnictrends.info/MarketResearch.html corrie@csp.edu, Tel: 612 321 8263 Latino firms are a rapid engine of growth in Hennepin County according to the latest data from the Economic Census, 2007. During the period 2002-2007 the number of Latino firms grew by 26 percent and their revenue by 545 percent. There were 1609 Latino firms in Hennepin County with $1.01 billion in revenue. They employed almost 4000 people with an annual payroll of $136 million – an 84 percent increase in employment and 222 percent increase in annual payroll during the same period. For more details see: www.ethnictrends.info/MarketResearch.html

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Minority Firms Continue Rapid Growth in MN

Latest Data Reveal Rapid Growth Continues for Minority Firms in Minnesota.. MN Latino Business Revenue Grew 250 percent – Second Highest in the Nation

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD Professor of Economics, Concordia University http://ethnictrends.info/MarketResearch.html corrie@csp.edu, Tel: 612 321 8263

Latest data on ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) firms in Minnesota (Economic Census 2007) reveals some interesting trends:

· Ranked by revenue, minority firms as a group would be the 15th largest in the state with total revenue of $5.8 billion in 2007, larger than St. Jude Medical, Toro and Deluxe Corporation. Asian owned firms would rank the 22nd largest with revenue of $2.4 billion.

· Ranked by employees, minority firms as a group would be the 9th largest employer, bigger than General Mills, Ecolab and Hormel, employing almost 40,000 with an annual payroll of $1.1 billion.

· The number of minority firms grew by 43 percent between 2002-2007 compared to 12 percent for all firms in Minnesota. Black owned firms were the largest number of minority firms followed by Asian owned firms.

· Revenue of minority firms grew by 83 percent between 2002-2007 compared to 30 percent for all firms in Minnesota. Revenue of Latino firms grew by 248 percent during this time period – the second highest growth in the nation. Revenue of Native American firms grew 72 percent.

Minnesota – time for a new vision – ALANA Capital can make Minnesota a Global Competitor. These firms are rebuilding the inner city, expanding the high tech corridors and creating jobs and wealth in Minnesota.

For more details and updated reports please visit - http://ethnictrends.info/MarketResearch.html

(Data is from the Economic Census 2007, preliminary estimates)

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

New Vision of Ethnic Capital Part of State of MN Policy

The State of Minnesota adopted this new vision for Minnesota...now we hope they will take it to the implementation phase....

State agency personnel: Please take note of the following excerpts from the Commissioner's Order regarding state agency purchasing:

  1. Businesses owned and operated by minorities, women, veterans and disabled individuals make significant contributions to Minnesota's economy.
  2. Small businesses are major contributors to jobs and revenue growth in Minnesota.
  3. Public spending can leverage small business development which in turn can help address issues such as job growth, increased tax revenue, increased human capital and reduction in dependency and crime.
  4. Public spending to leverage small business development is a priority for Minnesota's executive branch leadership and part of a larger strategy to make Minnesota globally competitive.
  5. State and local government agencies are strongly encouraged to develop programs to help build the capacity of Minnesota's small businesses.
  6. State executive branch agency purchasing and contracting conducted under the authority of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 16C must, at minimum, comply with this order.

Friday, November 19, 2010

So How did ALANA Color the Vote in 2010?

So How Did ALANA Color the Vote in 2010? This is a difficult task to do given the lack of good data. Based on analysis of 35 precincts where ALANA communities are on average 80 percent of the population - the following pattern emerges: Mark Dayton got 14,954 votes in these precincts, Tom Emmer got 2061 votes and Tom Horner got 970 votes. In this current “recount” climate these numbers are quite significant. On average Mark Dayton got 80 percent of the votes in these precincts. Statewide Dayton got only 43 percent of the votes. When we group these precincts by presence of the largest ALANA group subtle differences emerge. See complete article in the link below.
http://ethnictrends.info/pdfs/HowdidweColortheVotein2010.pdf

Thursday, February 25, 2010

How To Apply for a Visa to Come to the USA?

An Unofficial Guide Looking to come for to the USA – here are some tips especially if you are from Asia, Africa and Latin America:
  1. Brace yourself for extra rude treatment from visa officials – they think you are coming to steal the apple pie.
  2. Wear ear plugs – because you will meet some loud officials especially the ones whose job is to welcome or provide security.
  3. While in the USA you are innocent before you are proven guilty at the embassy you are guilty before you prove you are innocent.
  4. Officials will have a hard time believing all you want to do is visit for a while and go back to the place you call home.
  5. Be prepared to wait long in the cold or heat as officials believe that is how you enter the promised land.
  6. Don’t ask to use the restroom while you wait in line – they are afraid somehow you will sneak in.
  7. If you are old or single they think you do not want to go back to your home country.
  8. Don’t be surprised if the official is not courteous to you as that is not part of their job description and their superiors do not care either. They however expect you to be dressed in your best and to be courteous to them.
  9. Officials think they are trained psychologists – they can make a judgment call on your credibility in 2 seconds.
  10. Don’t expect one group of officials from one government agency to agree with another group of officials from a different agency – on the same set of facts.
  11. Be prepared to lose your legal visa status in the few seconds the officer makes a snap judgment call on your intent.
  12. Officials think that you cannot uphold the law and at the same time treat people with respect.
  13. Pray – miracles happen
To the many people who experienced much of the above - as a citizen of the USA I can say these officials do not represent our core American values. All over the country I have met Americans who are decent, kind and have a deep concern for their global family and uphold the dignity of the individual especially the vulnerable.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Latest Disparity Data shows no Gains to ALANA Businesses

Minnesota’s Performance in Using ALANA Businesses Bruce P. Corrie, PhD In 2000 the Governor’s Working Group on Minority Business Development documented the use of ALANA businesses in the state as recorded in the existing disparity studies in the state. The report can be found at http://www.ethnictrends.info. The report found that out of state procurement during that period totaling $2.2 billion, just $36 million were awarded to ALANA businesses or 1.6 percent of the total procurement. Analysis of the latest disparity data of the state in 2009, paints a similar picture. Of a total of $3.3 billion in state contracts, ALANA share was $36 million or 1.08 percent.

Minnesota's Statutes to Jump Start Small Businesses

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD www.ethnictrends.info

There are core policy proposals that have been suggested to grow small and minority businesses. The good news is that Minnesota does not have to create new laws – it has Statute 16C.16 already in place. What it can do is to fill in the critical gaps within these policies.

The legislative web site refers to a statute as, "a compilation of the general and permanent laws of the state, incorporating all new laws, amendments, or repeals of old law."

So there is an aura of permanence about this statute. Let us see how it stacks up against some commonly suggested policies to use small and minority businesses in the state.

Common Policy Proposals (Many of these were recommendations to the State provided by the Governor's Working Group on Minority Business Development in 2000 after statewide hearings and analysis of public procurement policies. See www.ethnictrends.info for the document):

1. Set aside a percentage of public procurement dollars for small and minority businesses.

2. Set goals for utilization of small and minority businesses in public contracts.

3. Provide technical assistance for small and minority businesses bidding on public contracts

4. Provide a simple central certification for small and minority businesses in the state across all entities at the federal, state and local level.

5. Break up large contracts into smaller ones that is within the capacity of small and minority businesses to bid on.

6. Assistance for small bidders who cannot compete with large firms which get special rates on large orders from suppliers.

7. Assistance with bonding and insurance requirements,

8. Quick payments for services done.

9. Reduce onerous paperwork needed to do business with the government

10. Set up mentoring programs, joint bidding, apprenticeship and other programs to grow small and minority businesses and prepare people for the future workforce needs of the state.

11. Provide easy access to RFPs and documents needed for the development of bids.

12. Provide information on upcoming projects at an early time so that small and minority firms can make plans to bid on such projects or develop joint bids.

13. Hold public officials accountable to meet utilization goals.

MINNESOTA LAWS IN PLACE RELATIVE TO THE ABOVE POLICY PROPOSALS

1. Set aside a percentage of public procurement dollars for small and minority businesses.

MINNESOTA STATUTES ALLOWS 25 PERCENT OF STATE PROCUREMENT TO BE DEDICATED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

16C.16. Subdivision 1. Small business procurements. (a) The commissioner shall for each fiscal year ensure that small businesses receive at least 25 percent of the value of anticipated total state procurement of goods and services, including printing and construction….

..(b) The commissioner must solicit and encourage Minnesota small businesses to submit

responses or bids when the commissioner is entering into master contracts. If cost-effective, when entering into a master contract, the commissioner must attempt to negotiate contract terms that allow agencies the option of purchasing from small businesses, particularly small businesses that are geographically proximate to the entity making the purchase.

Subd. 3. Professional or technical procurements. Every state agency must for each fiscal

year designate for awarding to small businesses at least 25 percent of the value of anticipated

procurements of that agency for professional or technical services.

TARGETED BUSINESS

Subd. 4. Targeted group purchasing. The commissioner shall establish a program for purchasing goods and services from targeted group businesses, as designated in subdivision 5. The purpose of the program is to remedy the effects of past discrimination against members of targeted groups. In furtherance of this purpose, the commissioner shall attempt to ensure that purchases from targeted group businesses reflect a fair and equitable representation of all

the state's purchasing.

2. Set goals for utilization of small and minority businesses in public contracts.

MINNESOTA STATUTES ALLOWS GOALS FOR THE UTILIZATION OF SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESSES IN PUBLIC CONTRACTS. THEY MAY BE AWARDED UP TO SIX PERCENT PREFERENCE IN THE BID. BIDS COULD BE DESIGNATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SMALL OR MINORITY BUSINESSES IF 3 SUCH BUSINESSES ARE LIKELY TO BID

Subd. 6. Purchasing methods. (a) The commissioner may award up to a six percent preference in the amount bid for specified goods or services to small targeted group businesses.

(b) The commissioner may designate a purchase of goods or services for award only to small businesses or small targeted group businesses if the commissioner determines that at least three small businesses or small targeted group businesses are likely to bid.

(c) The commissioner, as a condition of awarding a construction contract or approving a contract for professional or technical services, may set goals that require the prime contractor to subcontract a portion of the contract to small businesses or small targeted group businesses.

3. Provide technical assistance for small and minority businesses bidding on public contracts

4. Provide a simple central certification for small and minority businesses in the state across all entities at the federal, state and local level.

5. Break up large contracts into smaller ones that is within the capacity of small and minority businesses to bid on.

MINNESOTA STATUTES ALLOW FOR LARGE BIDS TO BE BROKEN INTO SMALLER BIDS TO ENABLE SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE. 16C.16. Subdivision 1. Small business procurements. (a) ….The commissioner shall divide the procurements so designated into contract award units of economically feasible production runs in order to facilitate offers or bids from small businesses.

6. Assistance for small bidders who cannot compete with large firms which get special rates on large orders from suppliers.

7. Assistance with bonding and insurance requirements,

8. Quick payments for services done.

9. Reduce onerous paperwork needed to do business with the government

10. Set up mentoring programs, joint bidding and other programs to grow small and minority businesses.

11. Provide easy access to RFPs and documents needed for the development of bids.

12. Provide information on upcoming projects at an early time so that small and minority firms can make plans to bid on such projects or develop joint bids.

13. Hold public officials and contractors accountable to meet utilization goals.

MINNESOTA LAW ALLOWS PENALTIES TO BE IMPOSED ON CONTRACTORS WHO DO NOT MEET STATE GOALS FOR SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS UTILIZATION.

Subd. 6. Purchasing methods. (c)… The commissioner may establish financial incentives for prime contractors who exceed the goals for use of small business or small targeted group business subcontractors and financial penalties for prime contractors who fail to meet goals under this paragraph.

-- Bruce P. Corrie, PhD ethnictrends.info policyperspectives.org 651 641 8226