Curran bill would aid vet-owned businesses

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On the eve of Veterans Day, a bill was introduced in the County Legislature that would direct more county contracts to veterans and active-duty service members who own local businesses.

County Legislator Laura Curran (D-Baldwin) is sponsoring the Veteran Owned Business Act, which she and fellow Democratic legislators unveiled at a press conference at Baldwin American Legion Post 246 on Nov. 10.

The county offers similar incentives to minority- and women-owned businesses, and Curran said it was time to extend the opportunity to veterans. “When we talk about veteran-owned businesses getting their fair share of contracts, we are not talking about quotas,” she said. “But we are talking about accountability.”

Under the bill, Curran said, all county agencies and departments that contract out work would be required to report the efforts they had made to hire veteran-owned businesses, and the results of those efforts, to the Legislature each year. The bill would also boost job opportunities for veterans, she said. “Strengthening veteran-owned businesses strengthens and diversifies our economy,” Curran said, “while giving vets the opportunities they deserve.”

To ensure those opportunities, the county’s Veterans Service Agency would create a directory of certified veteran-owned businesses, develop a database of programs and information that support those businesses and provide guidance when needed. Curran said this would help veteran-owned business “cut through the red tape” when seeking new contracts.

“I’m very hopeful this will appeal across party lines,” she said. “This helps everybody.”

Before the bill can be voted on, the Republican majority will review it. Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) said she has looked the bill over and has referred it to County Attorney Carnell Foskey. If he determines that the bill is workable, Gonsalves said, it would be approved. “Veterans are very important to me,” she said, “and if we can help them in any way, we’ll make every effort to do it.”

Steve Bohn, third vice commander of Post 246, said the bill would be a “positive action to help returning veterans.”

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