Small Business Community Rallies Against $1 Billion Failure By DC Agencies

WASHINGTON - Sept. 18, 2014 - PRLog -- “Where’s the $1 Billion?” exclaims the DC Small Business Community as they organize a rally to address misspent government funds at the John A. Wilson Building at 9:00 a.m. on September 23, 2014. For three consecutive years, District agencies have brazenly disregarded requirements to spend 50% of their expendable budget on small business enterprises (SBEs), according to a report by the Office of the DC Auditor. The report reveals a significant violation of agency compliance with the law (§ 2-218.41 (http://dccode.org/simple/sections/2-218.41.html)) – to the tune of $1 Billion over the last three years. This money was allocated to be spent with the District’s small business and local economy. It is clear that the priority the law gave to this goal of spending money with small businesses has not been followed nor enforced.

Leaders coming forward from the Small Business Community are frustrated and outraged that the DC government is ignoring its own law under the Small, Local, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005. A Compliance Report generated by Councilmember Vincent Orange’s office based on findings of the DC Auditor, reveals a deficiency totaling $995,854,922.00 unspent with the SBE community for Financial Years 2011-2013. As of third quarter 2014, only 17% of the SBE Expenditure Goals were met. When asked what this means for DC, Craig Stark, VP of Business Development with Bree & Associates, Inc., says “The government is hurting small businesses. They’re depriving us of the very business dollars intended to stimulate and sustain the local economy. Small businesses in our neighborhoods are struggling or closing. Jobs are lost or not created. There is less money being circulated in the District and the government continues to disregard their obligation to engage small businesses.”

Local business and community leaders are committing to speak at the rally to raise awareness and express their discontent to the DC Council and those running for office. The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), and the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) are among the supporters and they, along with hundreds of members of the Small Business Community, invite people to attend the rally that:

·         own or work for a small business in the District

·         recognize the value of small businesses,

·         seek employment in the District, and

·         want the government to abide by the laws it makes; and

·         benefit from tax dollars spent in the District.

Mike Smith, a Small Business Roundtable leader and local construction business owner, backs the rally saying “It can be challenging to run a successful business this town, especially when DC agencies are disregarding the law by not spending appropriated funds for local small businesses with local small businesses like mine. I’m a third generation Washingtonian and I’m proud of my hometown, but these omissions are unacceptable and the community wants to know what happened to the $1 billion that should have been spent with us over the last few years. What will newly elected representatives do to change these egregious acts that are contrary to DC law? I want to know so we can fix the problem and make my hometown an even better place to live and have a profitable business.”

The rally, scheduled for September 23 at 9:00 am, will be held on the steps of the Wilson Building located at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW.  For more information, visit our facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/708090989244236) or email SBCrallyinfo@gmail.com.

Confirmed Rally Supporters:

·          Councilmember Vincent Orange

·          Councilmember Marion Barry

·          Councilmember Anita Bonds

·          Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie

·          National Association of Minority Contractors

·          National Utilities Contractor Association

·          FMCC Small Business Roundtable

·          AFLCIO -

·          Teamsters Local 730/Joint Council 55

·          Johnson Memorial Baptist Church

·          ANC – Ward 7

·          ANC-Ward 8