Ohio's agencies have exceeded a goal of buying more goods and services from minority owned businesses. From our Statehouse Bureau, Jo Ingles has more..
The Minority Business Enterprise program requires state agencies to set aside 15% of their spending for purchases from certified minority owned businesses.
This year marks the first time since the set aside was created back in 1980 that the state has met that goal. Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor says state agencies spent a total of $228.5 million with minority businesses during the last fiscal year.
"So clearly we have not only met the 15% goal at this point, we have exceeded it."
Taylor says 19% of the spending in state agencies went to minority owned businesses.
Leaders of minority communities say this is good news because it not only helps those business owners, but also creates new jobs for many minorities who live in their communities.