Council calls for study on aiding small businesses

September 20, 2010

Summary

Examining ways to provide companies work opportunities through County contracts

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today called on the County Executive to explore ways to assist small companies as they seek to do business with King County. The unanimously adopted motion asks the Executive to study and report back to the Council on the legality and practicability of creating a small business set-aside program for companies seeking to work with the County in a variety of areas ranging from construction and consulting to contracting with the County for the delivery of goods and services.

“Increasing opportunities for small businesses to be successful in our region creates local jobs and spurs our economy,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, sponsor of the motion. “This legislation will explore ways not only to make King County government more accessible to small businesses seeking work, but more fair and equitable in ensuring that small businesses share in contracting opportunities.”

The motion is an extension of County program that has been operating since 2005. The Contracting Opportunities Program (COP) is intended to enhance opportunities for small businesses to do business with King County. The program initially applied to the purchase of goods and services and was expanded to include consulting services. In 2007, the Council approved legislation that expanded the COP to include construction projects when there is sufficient availability of small contractors.

King County performs its own certification of small businesses. To qualify, a business must but be at or below 50 percent of the federal Small Business Administration standards for size thresholds and the personal net worth of each owner cannot exceed $750,000.

In this current economic crisis, the Council recognizes that a county contract could mean the difference in a small business keeping its doors open or having to shut down. The adopted motion asks the Executive to examine if there are any practical of legal impediments preventing the implementation of a program that sets aside a portion of county procurements, construction and consulting work for small businesses. The motion calls on the Executive to report is recommendations to the Council by March 31, 2011.




The adopted motion advances the Council’s priority of Local Jobs and Economic Development.