WHEREAS, diverse entrepreneurship encourages progress toward innovative solutions to the problem of economic growth and stability, and supports the promise of thriving communities that embrace inclusion and a better life for all families; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes minority-owned businesses as key drivers of economic success at the national, state and local levels and the urgency to aid such businesses in post-pandemic recovery; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color across the United States; many of these individuals experience higher illness and death rates and more severe economic ramifications, and minority-owned businesses have also declined across the country as many are unable to financially stay afloat due to the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, according to a report from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, from February to April 2020, the number of active business owners in the U.S. decreased by 22 percent, the largest on record since the onset of the pandemic; Black-owned businesses declined by 41 percent, Latinx-owned businesses decreased by 32 percent, Asian-owned businesses dropped by 26 percent, and women-owned businesses fell by 25 percent nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force was established under Executive Order No. 143 to address the social, environmental, economic and health disparities in communities of color disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 in North Carolina; the Department of Administration’s Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) will operate the first North Carolina Small Business Enterprise program to promote the usage of and support of small contractors and minority owned businesses to competitively participate in procurement opportunities with the State of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Office of Civil Rights is committed to enforcing federal laws, state laws, regulations that prohibit discrimination for customers and employees participating in North Carolina transportation programs that receive federal and/or state funding; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes and celebrates the achievements of minority-owned businesses, and encourages participation in programs that honor the contributions of minority-owned businesses and impact the expansion of access to economic opportunity statewide;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2021, as “MINORITY ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.