HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1571

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                Trade & Economic Development

Title:  An act relating to minority and women business development.

Brief Description:  Funding the minority and women business development office.

Sponsors:  Representatives Veloria, Van Luven, Ebersole, Sheldon, Hatfield, Valle, Mason, Radcliff, Conway, Ballasiotes, Costa, Cody, Regala, Kessler, Chopp and Dickerson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Trade & Economic Development:  2/9/95, 2/16/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Van Luven, Chairman; Radcliff, Vice Chairman; D. Schmidt, Vice Chairman; Sheldon, Ranking Minority Member; Veloria, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Ballasiotes; Hatfield; Hickel; Mason; Skinner and Valle.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Sherstad.

Staff:  Kenny Pittman (786-7392).

Background:   The Business Assistance Center, within the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, is designed to coordinate the delivery of state services to assist in the creation, expansion, or retention of small business.

The Legislature created the Minority and Women's Business Development Office in 1993.  The purpose of the office is to ensure that minorities and women have access to the resources and technical assistance available to start or expand a small business.  The office administers programs that provides entrepreneurial education and training, contract procurement assistance, export assistance, bonding assistance, loans and grants, and technical assistance in the areas of marketing, finance, management, procurement, and identification of export markets.

Summary of Bill:   The sum of $500,000 is appropriated to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development for the activities of the Minority and Women's Business Development Office within the Business Assistance Center.

Appropriation:  $500,000 from the general fund.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill has an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1995.

Testimony For:  The minority and women business development programs have been a success.  This program is central to any economic development effort at the state and local level.  The entire state benefits from these efforts.  The technical assistance provided to people wanting to start or operate a business has been invaluable.  The export assistance has allowed the businesses to have access to international markets.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (Pro)  Representative Veloria, sponsor; Kathy Norwood-Chance and Kevin Johnson, Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development; Jeff McKinney, Pacific Northwest Economic Assistance Program; Chris Baer, Asia-Pacific Economic Review; Mick Matsuzawa, Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce; David Della, Washington Commission on Asian-American Affairs; Mary West, Olympic College; Doug Jenkins, JBS, Inc.; Donovan Rivers, Area Business Center Development; Violet Noriega, Paperworks; Herbert Duke and Delois Bradford, Manufactured Food Product; and Curtis Singleton, Tacoma World Trade Center.