Are you advocating for your business?
By Ronda Watson Barber
Publisher
I continue to ask Black business owners, “Are you advocating for your business?” “What are you doing to make sure Black businesses get a piece of the public purchasing pie?” We all have the responsibility to make sure that tax dollars flow back to Black businesses.
I am a firm believer that if an entity gets public dollars there is a moral obligation to include all tax payers into the purchasing scheme. Most public school boards are ready and eager to accept public tax dollars from a diverse tax base. For whatever reason, they are not interested in doing business with Black businesses. (I will speak on the nation’s 15th largest city, Columbus that still doesn’t have any purchasing goals next week)
In Central Ohio, five public school districts have put a tax levy on the November ballot. Those districts include: Columbus, Hilliard, Westerville, Bexley and Licking Heights. With the exception of Columbus City Schools, the districts listed have no purchasing inclusion plans. They have no purchasing goals. It’s taxation without participation and the boards of education could care less. They are not putting inclusion activities into their daily purchasing schemes. You can believe, they are willing to do whatever to collect your tax debt.
In the August 1 issue of OhioMBE, I posted the names and email addresses of local school district heads. Did you send them a note, expressing your desire to see inclusion in purchasing? You should take a few minutes to pen a letter and let them know that purchasing inclusion will effect how you vote on tax levies. Again, we all have the responsibility to make sure public school districts are inclusive in their purchasing. They are now asking for your vote. Our votes and dollars have power. Challenge those who want your tax dollars. It can’t continue to be business as usual. I encourage you to be an educated and active voter. Ask questions.
Business is political. It is critical to the continued growth and development of Black businesses that we engage in the political process. Are the lawmakers acting in your businesses’ best interest? Are laws being enacted that hamper the growth of your business? Have your voiced your displeasure on how your tax dollars are spent? Are your elected officials engaged in the community or do they simply take their marching orders from powerful PACs that provide the majority of financing to their campaigns? Are they looking out for us? As small and minority business owners consider asking the following questions to those seeking to pass levies, public office and your precious vote.
- What have you done for minority businesses during your career?
- What do you promise to do for minority businesses if elected?
- What minority business do you regularly purchase products for services from?
- Why should minority business owners vote for you?
- How important is minority business development to the overall Ohio economy?
- Are minority business set-asides and goals in city/county/state/school districts still important and why?
- What can the city/county/state/school districts do to improve its purchasing with minority businesses?
- What should minority owned businesses do to get city/county/state/school districts contracts?
- Is there anything else, aside from contracting that city/county/state/school districts can do to assist MBE’s?
- Who are the major contributors to your campaign?
Black business is good business! Advocate for your business and VOTE!
Just my thoughts…rwb
