Why the Minority Business Community Should Support my Candidacy for Office of Mayor?
By James C. Ragland
OhioMBE – Feb. 1, 2015
The progression of the minority business community is linked to the economic development of urban centers since minority businesses typically hire minorities to a greater extent. Thus, the development of the minority business community is a significant component of my platform and links to the focus of my campaign to:
- Focus on quality jobs for Columbus residents
- Provide quality schools for all of Columbus’ children
- Improve communication between local government and the community
- Make a solid investment in all neighborhoods
The City of Columbus has a rich history in supporting the community through the Equal Business Opportunity Office. I will take the initiative to the next level by:
- Building upon my proven advocacy for the minority business community. In my prior roles, I have personally worked with owners of minority businesses in Columbus. I am able to talk about what I have done and not what I plan to do.
- Maintaining top-down leadership and engagement with the minority business community. Studies have shown that an engaged and committed mayoral leader provides the foundation and business case for minority business development within a city. Thus, the Office of Mayor sets the culture for the city in support of minority business development. I understand the importance of minority business development as well as the financial impact on the community.
- Tapping the knowledge of minority business founders and chief executive officers. Minority business leaders are the city’s business partners and an under-utilized talent within the city. At its core, minority business development is about job creation and economic empowerment. The City of Columbus has an overall unemployment rate below 4% and Mayor Coleman is to be congratulated. But what is the unemployment rate for African Americans in the city? What is the unemployment rate for African American males between 18 and 25? Business leaders and city officials need to address the unemployment rate in the African-American community together. I believe growing the minority business community will help address the unemployment rate in the inner city.
- Monitoring performance at the lowest level through the Equal Business Opportunity Office. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated that “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” Our goal must be to ensure that all within the boat are equal and remain afloat. To accomplish this task, we must understand the current water level. Therefore, I believe the utilization of minority/female businesses must be monitored by individual diverse classification to fully understand the positive impact on specific communities.
- Listening to the feedback of the minority business community. Many corporations establish supplier diversity councils comprised of both internal and external stakeholders. I will pursue this idea as a means to solicit constructive feedback on an on-going basis.
I ask for your support for the Office of Mayor for the City of Columbus.
