Governor Signs Executive Order Ensuring Minorities and Women Benefit from Economic Stimulus Programs

TRENTON - Vowing to do all he can to ensure minorities and women benefit from state and federal economic stimulus dollars, Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed an Executive Order at Drumthwacket requiring the 109 state agencies, authorities, commission and colleges include underrepresented minorities in the recovery effort.

The Executive Order also requires all local government entities, local education agencies and all New Jersey private employers that enter into contracts funded with dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to require their contractors and subcontractors to post job openings on the State's Job Bank at least 14 days before hiring is to commence.

"We are here today to make sure all boats are lifted as the tide rises," said Governor Corzine. "I am signing this historic executive order because we must do all we can to make sure public contracts, jobs and job training are shared with those groups hardest hit by the recession."

Among other things, the executive order does the following:

• Establishes goals for State agencies, authorities, colleges and universities and commissions to contract with minority and women-owned businesses consistent with recommendations made in two disparity studies done by the state
• Ensures that jobs created through federal and state economic recovery funds are posted on the Department of Labor's website http://NJ.gov/JobCentralNJ
• Encourages State agencies, authorities, colleges and universities and commissions receiving recovery funding to work with contractors and organized labor to ensure diversity among the ranks of the workforce
• Ensures that minorities and women are afforded training and apprenticeship opportunities for construction trades
• Ensures that minorities and women are given equal opportunities for employment on work sites funded through state and federal economic stimulus dollars

"This Executive Order expands upon our ongoing efforts to increase economic opportunities for minorities and women,'" the Governor said.

In July 2008, Governor Corzine established, under the Department of Treasury, the Office of Supplier Diversity. The goal was to create a one-stop shopping designation where small, minority and women-owned businesses could receive training, mentoring and information on contracting opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

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