Governor Kaine Announces Results of 2009 Disparity Study

Press Release

-- Findings show significant improvements in state hiring of women- and minority-owned firms following Governor's Executive Order --

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today highlighted the results of the 2009 Disparity Study for the Commonwealth of Virginia, which showed substantial improvements in state contracting of women- and minority-owned firms in the last five years. Since 2006, the number of women- and minority-owned prime firms used by the Commonwealth, public colleges and universities, and within the private marketplace in Virginia has more than doubled. During the same time period, overall spending grew by more than $315 million.

"Shortly after I took office I ordered all state agencies to develop gender-neutral and race-neutral procurement policies to maximize the participation of all our citizens in the vast array of commercial opportunities offered by the state," said Governor Kaine. "While we have more work to do to improve the Commonwealth's historically abysmal record in buying goods and services from small, women-, and minority-owned firms, I'm pleased by the progress we've made in the last several years. I am confident we will build on our successes in the future."

The report was undertaken as a requirement of Executive Order 33 issued in 2006 to ensure enhanced opportunities for small, women-, and minority-owned businesses in the Commonwealth. The 2009 Commonwealth Disparity Study revealed substantial growth in spending with women- and minority-owned businesses at both the prime contractor and subcontractor levels. Overall prime spending by the Commonwealth and major state colleges and universities with women and minority prime vendors over five years grew from $107.7 million (1.2 percent of Commonwealth prime spending) in 2004 to $423.1 million (3.2 percent of Commonwealth prime spending) in the 2009 study.

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