Minorities drastically underrepresented in state contracts

CHICAGO – In response to the state’s poor record of contracting with women and minorities despite a program specifically designed to do so, a special Senate committee opened a new inquiry Tuesday.

Many public universities, including the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University, did not come close to meeting the goal to spend 20 percent of their contract dollars with businesses owned by minorities and females last fiscal year.

State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago), the Special Committee on Supplier Diversity’s  chairman, called the meeting to find out why universities failed to meet the requirements of the Business Enterprise Program, what is being done to make up ground and how the state could better force compliance.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Sandoval said. “We have to be accountable to the people we serve and we have to direct our legislative efforts toward pushing state agencies to meet their goals.”

Sandoval said Central Management Services did a poor job of explaining the Business Enterprise Program to the committee, which came to the conclusion that reform is needed.

“CMS had an hour and a half to explain this program to us and they said nothing,” Sandoval said.  “CMS is in charge of this program and it’s kind of like the wolf guarding the henhouse. There is no oversight except from a volunteer council.”

State Senator James Clayborne Jr. (D-Belleville), who has advocated for supplier diversity alongside Sandoval, demanded answers as well.

“For years I’ve been asking why the state can’t include minorities and women and I always get the same excuses: ‘We’re working on it, it’s difficult to do, we already have established relationships with most of our vendors,” Clayborne said. “We need solutions – not excuses – for these failures. We need accountability and creativity to include minorities in state contracts.”

Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood), a former CMS employee that worked with the BEP, had strong sentiments for CMS and the universities as well.

“You’re not doing a good job in identifying African American and Latino business owners, period,” Lightford said. “There are no deadlines, there’s no accountability. It’s a vicious cycle and it is continually happening throughout the state of Illinois. There are always excuses when it comes to minority vendors. If there is something we could do on the legislative end, please let us know. We will work on it.”   

Sandoval ended the four-hour meeting by informing the universities that he would be visiting their campuses to examine practices and help them find ways to improve on their BEP numbers. 

CHICAGO – Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) helped break ground this week on an $18 million industrial project in Little Village that will bring more than 200 new jobs to the area.

“Every job we create helps strengthen our community and gives residents on the Southwest Side an opportunity to provide for themselves and to contribute to their future,” Sandoval said. “I was happy to break ground on this project and I look forward to watching it grow.”

The new building will include 174,000 square feet of new industrial space on an 8.2-acre site at 2445 S. Rockwell St. The new building will include 18 loading docks, landscaped buffers and an underground storm water retention system.

More than 100 jobs are expected to be created long-term, while 100 construction jobs will be required in the building phase. The developer, Venture One, aims to lease the space to e-commerce operators and restaurant-related supply companies.

“The way we conduct commerce in America is changing, and I am happy that Little Village will benefit from the jobs created by e-commerce,” Sandoval said.

The new building will also contribute to local property taxes. In 2016, the vacant site collected just $16,000 in property taxes. The City of Chicago estimates the developer will pay more than $150,000 per year once the work is complete.

“Little Village is full of hardworking people—like my parents—ready to contribute and make life better for themselves,” Sandoval said. “This facility will allow many of our residents to do so. That’s a win for all involved.”