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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Kenyatta Johnson
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House panel approves Johnson mentor-protégé program
HARRISBURG, June 29 – State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, D-Phila., said the House State Government Committee today unanimously approved his amended legislation that would assist, support and enable small businesses to successfully compete for state contracts by partnering with large companies as mentors.
Johnson said the legislation (H.B. 2145), which is based on findings in the report by the House Select Committee on Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Inclusion, would establish a mentor/protégé program that would partner small businesses with larger companies to mentor them through the process of competing for state contracts.
"This mentor-protégé arrangement
between a prime contractor and a minority-owned, women-owned or disadvantaged
subcontractor would become an important factor for consideration in the
awarding of any state contract," Johnson said. "This program would
help to create jobs among small, women- or minority-owned businesses, and would
help this often overlooked sector become a key player in generating tax revenues
for the state's economy."
Johnson said this mentor program would be developed with the assistance of the Department of General Services, who would establish the appropriate and applicable guidelines and criteria for participation in the program.
The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.