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AN ORDINANCE creating a program to promote the use of small economically disadvantaged businesses in competing for county contracting opportunities; adding a new chapter to the King County Code and prescribing penalties.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. The success of small economically disadvantaged businesses is important to the region's overall economy, including the development of job opportunities and social mobility in the county.
2. Businesses located within the county that seek contracting opportunities operate under a competitive disadvantage with businesses located elsewhere because of higher taxes and higher operating and administrative costs.
3. Economic justice is served by enhancing opportunities for small economically disadvantaged business owners who pursue relevant technical and entrepreneurial training to become more skilled competitors.
4. Businesses that locate and remain in economically distressed areas help to strengthen those areas by stimulating economic activity and revitalizing neighborhoods.
5. Through its contracting activities, the county is in a position to create important economic incentives to use small economically disadvantaged businesses.

6. It is in the county's economic interest to provide incentives to encourage small economically disadvantaged businesses to locate and remain within the county.

7. It is also in the county's economic interests to continue to encourage participation of women and minority-owned business enterprises that meet the criteria for being economically disadvantaged and to do so in a manner consistent with current law and the overall interests of the polity.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
NEW SECTION. SECTION 1. Boost program for small economically disadvantaged businesses. The executive shall implement a boost program under which the county and its contractors have an incentive to make use of small economically disadvantaged businesses as prime contractors, s...

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