| Speech by Governor Kulongoski |
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| October 21, 2004 |
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Governor’s Marketplace Conference 2004
REMARKS BY GOVERNOR TED KULONGOSKI
Thursday, October 21. 2004
Thank you Lydia for your introduction – and for putting together a great team of staff and volunteers to organize this year’s Marketplace Conference.
Let me also thank all of the sponsors who made this conference possible: The Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the Oregon Lottery, WorkSource Oregon, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, the Department of Human Resources, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Finally, I want to acknowledge and thank Senator Avel Gordly – not only for being your keynote speaker, but also for consistently standing up for minority and women businesses. Don’t ever think that you have no voice in the state Legislature. You do – and that voice belongs to Senator Avel Gordly.
You also have a very determined voice in this governor and my office. When I became Governor, I asked Lydia Muniz to be a strong and effective advocate for minority, women and emerging small businesses. Lydia heard me and went right to work. Lydia doesn’t have a big staff – although, as this conference proves, the staff she has is first rate. But Lydia does have a very big belief in the importance of small business to Oregon’s economy. And it is a belief that I wholeheartedly share.
That is why I am very pleased to welcome you to my second Governor’s Marketplace Conference. I’m joined by colleagues from the Secretary of State’s office, and federal, state and local government. This conference – which is both an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to make the sale – is a critical part of my economic development agenda. I say that for one simple reason: When you succeed – all of Oregon succeeds. That’s why this year’s conference has just the right theme. We’re calling it: “The Road to Success!”
Almost from the day I announced I was going to run for Governor – I’ve been saying that my top priority is to grow the economy and create new jobs. Everything else on my agenda – from education to public safety to protecting the environment – depends on shaking off the lingering effects of the recession and revving up Oregon’s economy. But that won’t happen without minority, women and emerging small businesses. I believe in you. I depend on you. And I want to work with you to make sure your businesses grow and prosper.
As Governor, I spend a lot of time talking to – and working with – large companies. A company like T-Mobile can – and did – bring 700 jobs to Redmond. Wachovia Bank is bringing hundreds more. But I am absolutely convinced that Oregon’s economic rise will be led by the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners.
Small businesses make up the majority of Oregon companies. You’re an engine for job creation. An engine for innovation. And – maybe most important – an engine for economic opportunity. The fact is: Small businesses have unlocked the door to the American Dream for countless women and minorities in Oregon. For minorities and women – you are often the employer of first resort. So you’re not just helping to move our economy forward. You’re helping move justice forward too. For that you have my deepest appreciation.
But appreciation is not enough. I know that. You want appreciation and partnership. And so do I – because working together is the best way to keep us both on the road to success. For me, partnership means listening to your concerns and learning what I can do to help your businesses grow. It means focusing more attention on education and workforce training – which I have been doing for two years – so that you can go out and hire the best young minds, with the best new skills. And it means doing everything I can to make sure that state agencies work with you – so that you are able to do everything you can to win state contracts.
Just last week, I told the Urban League of Portland that I was determined to level the playing field for African American businesses. And I meant it. But I’m not stopping there. I want to level the playing field for all minority-owned businesses. For all women-owned businesses. And for all emerging small businesses. That’s why I met in August with minority business organizations about how best to integrate their needs – and what they’re doing – into my larger economic development agenda.
Leveling the playing field is also why Lydia is working closely with state agencies to make sure their procurement practices are fair, open, understandable, and well publicized. I take this very seriously. And I expect the same from every state agency. My message to state agencies is simple and straightforward: We have a responsibility to make sure that our process for contracting with minority and women vendors is proactive. That means, don’t just be available – be helpful. Don’t just abide by the letter of the law – abide by the spirit of the law. And don’t just expect good quality from your small business vendors – expect the best. Because that is what you will get!
One of my core beliefs – and I’ve talked about this a lot lately – is that public investment creates jobs and becomes an engine for economic growth. Last year I worked very hard to pass a 5-billion dollar transportation package to build and repair roads and bridges across Oregon. This is the largest public works project since we built the Interstate Highway System in Oregon. These investments will result in thousands of high-wage jobs for Oregon workers – and many business opportunities for you.
This is a good example of what I mean when I say we have to be more than available – we have to be helpful. The Oregon Department of Transportation is here conducting a workshop that will provide you with a roadmap for bidding on ODOT projects. If you own a company that can move this project forward, I hope you’ll attend the workshop. And just as important, I hope when this conference is over you’ll take advantage of what you learn here and enter the bidding process for ODOT contracts.
I also encourage you to take advantage of the wealth of information on marketing, risk management, lending, and business planning that will be discussed here today – as well as the many networking opportunities that this conference offers. I have one more request. Because you are successful leaders of small businesses – you have as much to teach as to learn. And as much to give back as to gain.
Yes, government has important knowledge – especially in the area of procurement – that can help people in the private sector be successful. That’s the purpose of this conference. But people in the private sector have important knowledge that can help make government successful. So today I have a request: Use your hard work and experience as owners of emerging small businesses to help state government run smarter, more efficiently, and more transparently. You can do that by considering an appointment to one of the state’s many boards and commissions. We have over 200 boards and commissions – on everything from economic development to licensing.
I want to see more minorities and women on these important policy-making bodies. When you join a board or commission, the public and I both benefit from you entrepreneurial talent, your time, and the example you set for other minorities and women who might be considering service to their communities. You will also be advancing my goal of creating a more diverse executive branch – with all the benefits for the public that come with that diversity: New thinking. A stronger economy. Greater social justice.
You benefit as well. Serving on a board or commission will help expand your network of contacts – and your understanding of state laws, regulations and policy. If you’re interested and want to find out more, Nancy Goss-Duran, my Executive Appointments Director, will be here during and after lunch. She has applications – and will be pleased to take your business cards.
I’d like close to my remarks this morning by congratulating the Oregon Secretary of State’s office and Saber Consulting for their work on the Oregon Centralized Voter Registration Project. In a few moments, I’ll present each with an Achievement Award. For this important project, the Secretary of State’s office made it easier for small companies to compete by – among other things – waiving the performance bond and finding an alternative way to cover their risk. And Saber – which won the contract – saved Oregon taxpayers between and 6 and 8-million dollars with their low bid.
This is the kind of partnership and innovation that will strengthen our economy and build successful minority, women and emerging small businesses. And it is the kind of partnership and innovation that this Marketplace Conference is designed to promote. So I urge you to take full advantage of the opportunity by networking, attending workshops, and meeting one-on-one with individual agencies.
That is the road to success!
Thank you for being here – and have a great conference.
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