Business
Diversity in the Community
With recent passage of the Transportation Special
Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) in the 13 county region around Augusta
it is vitally important that our tax dollars being spent be representative of
the community. Of those 13 counties 7
having a minority population of over 51% (constitutes the majority). Fifty-Nine percent (59%) of Richmond County’s
residents alone are minority which means a significant amount of TAX dollars will
come from this community (US Census Bureau Quick Facts 2013). Over a 10 year period $841 million will be
collected and fund projects which will include airports, highways, bridges and
public transits. This increase in
construction equates to economic growth and not to mention jobs in the
community. Now you may ask how does this
information tie back to business diversity?
Business Diversity also known as Supplier Diversity
in short is the inclusion of minorities and women in contracting/procurement
opportunities. The purpose of these
programs is to provide equal access to opportunities for qualified businesses that
might not have been given a chance otherwise.
Business Diversity Programs can be seen in governments most times as a
federal, state, or local requirement because of funding received. Some major corporations also have supplier
diversity programs as part of their social responsibility to consumers and
recognition of a diverse community. To
answer your question of how this ties back to the community?
If over 51% of your community is minority and contributing
major tax dollars to the region it is only fair to take in consideration the
needs of the community. Business
Diversity is a mechanism for social responsibility in the community which in
essence takes in consideration the community’s needs. The utilization of minority and woman owned
businesses directly impacts those in the community surrounding a particular
business. By diversifying
contracting/procurement activity agencies begin to break down barriers to
inclusion. Jobs near that business are
created because services have increased which necessitates more people to
work. Products are being bought and
produced to keep up with the demand. The
more demand for products and services the more people required which means the
more jobs being created in the community.
How is Business Diversity working in your
community? Let us help!
Patterson-Brown & Associates is in the business
of building, bridging, and sustaining relationships between small, minority,
and woman owned businesses and connecting them with governmental entities and
large corporations.
Patterson-Brown & Associates is a business
diversity consulting firm with specializations in contract compliance and
business diversity strategies. Brenda
Brown is Principal & Business Development Director at Patterson-Brown &
Associates. She can be reached at (706) 834-4207 or bbrown@pba-diversity.com
and www.pba-diversity.com.
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