Maricopa County announced Monday that its board of supervisors approved a new small business advocacy program (SBAP), which aims to provide local enterprises with a larger share of county business.
“The program is about making sure that small and local businesses are being given a chance to sell goods and services to the county. The county buys everything from baby diapers to xenon light bulbs, we buy dentists and landscapers, plumbers and engineers – you name it – we probably buy it. It is a Board priority to support small and local businesses, when it makes sense, for purchases that are under $100,000 and not covered under an existing contract,” the Maricopa County Office of Procurement Services (MCOPS) said in an email to The Arizona Sun Times.
According to a news release, the county spends over $750 million annually on goods, services, and construction each year. The MCOPS will oversee the SBAP, which introduces greater flexibility for county departments, with quotes on the open market for needed goods and services to use that money to make purchases from Arizona’s small and local businesses.
The MCOPS told The Sun Times this flexibility granted in the program means the county departments do not automatically have to award a purchase to the lowest bidder but have the discretion to choose an offer from a small/local business instead.
“Part of what makes Maricopa County’s economy so successful are the thriving small businesses that provide recreation, goods, and services,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. “By awarding more County contracts to our own local small businesses we show them the support they deserve so they can continue contributing to our economy and making Maricopa County feel like home.”
To be eligible for this program, local enterprises must be independently owned, located within or partially within Maricopa County (with the majority of sales and employees coming from the county), have fewer than with earnings under $4 million in annual receipts in the last year, and have all county taxes in order.
Over 95 percent of Arizona’s businesses have under 100 employees. Qualifying establishments can certify themselves on the county’s E-procurement platform, Periscope S2G.
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of Maricopa County’s economy and I believe the action taken by our Board of Supervisors will directly enhance opportunities for small and local businesses and have good, long-term results for our economy,” added Kevin Tyne, director of the MCOPS.
The Sun Times also reached out to the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and local businesses in Arizona for a reaction but did not receive a response before publishing.
The NFIB did share support for other small business news: the announcement that Gov. Doug Ducey (R) accelerated the flat tax rate for Arizona to begin next year. Chad Heinrich, the Arizona State Director of NFIB, said this might be the help some small businesses need to survive current and future economic hardships.
“Our small businesses will now pay a single, 2.5% income tax rate on all their business income in the new year. This rate reduction and simplification will help all small business owners through what looks to be a tough year with a possible recession and economic downturn on the horizon. It will be good to have the lowest single rate income tax in the nation to subdue the upcoming economic headwinds,” Heinrich said.
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Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Coffee Shop” by Andrea Piacquadio.
