CALL TO ACTION: HB1522 (Abolish Dept of Business Assistance)

I received an email Sunday evening regarding this bill, which I highlighted in this post.

The Greater Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerce (GHRBCC) is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining the Black business community in Hampton Roads through entrepreneurship, advocacy, education, capitalistic activity, and benefit solutions for our members. The services that the VDBA provides to small businesses directly support our organization’s purpose and membership. We feel this merger will not be beneficial to the Black-owned businesses in our region, as most are small businesses. VEDP’s major focuses, while important to the Commonwealth’s business development, are too broad to adequately address the needs of small businesses. The VDBA is the only state agency whose main focus is the formation, support and growth of Virginia’s small businesses. In August 2006, Governor Tim Kaine passed Executive Order 33 that has the singular purpose of increasing state procurement opportunities for small, women and minority-owned businesses. We applaud VDBA’s commitment to small business and its contributions to the SWaM businesses in the Commonwealth. The goals mandated by Executive Order 33 have not yet been met, and we cannot allow one of the few agencies committed to this Order to be abolished.

For whatever reason, this bill has hit the fast track. It will be heard in the House General Laws subcommittee on Professional/Occupational/Adminstrative Process on Tuesday, January 29 at 5pm. The GHRBCC is requesting attendance at the meeting, if possible. If not, it is requested that you contact the members of the committee either by email or by calling the Constituent Viewpoint line at 1-800-889-0229.

In case you are not familiar with the VDBA, please take a look at some of the accomplishments of this department (doc). This department does not need to be eliminated. In his post on the subject, Jim Bacon asked what bill sponsor Massie has against this department. No idea, Jim. But something’s going on.

UPDATE: From a comment below, it appears that this bill WILL NOT be on the subcommittee agenda tomorrow. My own review of the docket confirms this.