A look at doing business with minority business
by Laura Salinger
In 2005, government figures estimated the growth of Black-owned businesses in Wisconsin up 38 percent from 1997. Asian-owned businesses grew 32 percent and Hispanic-owned businesses grew 24 percent.
Racial and ethnic minorities are the U.S.'s fastest growing population and harbor a wealth of opportunity for small business growth in this country. Minority Business Development Agency National Director Ronald N. Langston views racial and ethnic minorities as crucial to the economic prowess of the United States.
"Looking forward to the future, I contend that if America is to maintain its preeminence in the world marketplace, we must ensure that our entrepreneurial economy is alive and well among all segments of our nation's diverse population," Langston said in an article for Franchising World. "Accordingly, we must put in place strategic business policies and an infrastructure that fosters an environment where minority entrepreneurs can realize their hopes and dreams of business ownership and prosperity."
At the heart of that infrastructure is the government's role in helping minority and other small business owners with programs that support small business development and growth, while simultaneously contracting their services. The latter is where Wisconsin state, county, and city government is struggling.
According to a recent report in the Wisconsin State Journal, Wisconsin is currently spending only 2.8 percent with minority-owned businesses; well short of the five percent goal that was implemented in 1984. In fact, the state has never actually reached that goal.
Dane County, likewise, has struggled in their efforts to contract with minority-owned businesses. They do, however, have a history of success in keeping with their goal of doing 10 percent of their contracting with any one of the following: disadvantaged, minority, women owned or emerging small business enterprises.
In a recent interview with the Capital City Hues, Dane County Office of Equal Opportunity Contract Compliance Officer Wesley Sparkman explained what the county is doing to maintain their successes, while simultaneously ratcheting up their efforts to increase contracting with minority-owned businesses.
Sparkman has worked for Dane County for nearly 10 years, seven of which have been with the Office of Equal Opportunity. He has an undergraduate degree in sociology and a master's in public affairs. He says the county has achieved a number of successes in the small business arena, but still has some work to do.
"Currently, we have a history of doing really well in meeting our 10 percent goal," Sparkman said. "We consistently do well overall, but we do need to do better on our minority-owned business enterprise program." As of today, the county does less than one percent of its contracting with minority-owned businesses. A number that Sparkman agrees is too little. "We have detected that we need to make improvements in the areas of minority-owned business," he conceded.
One way the office is working to improve in this area is with increased marketing and education efforts. Sparkman said that at this point, it is about getting the word out and increasing visibility among the minority business sector. The Office of Equal Opportunity recently developed a website and they hope to provide increased educational opportunities so that minority-owned businesses can learn what contracts are currently up for grabs, as well as utilize county services to further grow and develop their businesses.
Oftentimes, minority-owned businesses aren't even aware of the contracting opportunities that are out there. Sparkman strongly recommends that all minority businesses become certified as Minority Business Enterprises so they can access this information and other services available from the county.
An upcoming event hosted by Dane County's Office of Equal Opportunity-along with the African American Black Business Association, the Latino Chamber of Commerce, and the Women's Business Initiative Corporation will also work to increase awareness. The Dane County Business Opportunity Forum will take place on November 15 at the Alliant Energy Center's Exhibition Hall. The event will feature a prominent, to-be-announced keynote speaker, as well as breakout sessions aimed at educating small businesses in Dane County. At the heart of the event is the opportunity for business owners to network and learn what opportunities are available for them in Dane County.
"One thing that we try to emphasize is business growth and education for small businesses in Dane County," Sparkman said. "We are really trying to be proactive and reach higher goals."
Ultimately, it is crucial that government entities and the community in general support the efforts of all the small businesses that make up Dane County. While Wal-Mart and McDonald's abound, it is the small businesses that really fuel a local economy and lend to the uniqueness and appeal of a community.
September 5, 2007 Archives