Oregon legislature approves M/WBE development funds
Published on 07/08/2013
A bill intended to help Oregon's minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs) prepare to compete in the state's construction market is expected to be signed into law by Gov. John Kitzhaber.
Senate Bill 831A, which passed in the Senate on June 29 and the House on July 2 with only one legislator in each chamber voting against the measure, will direct the Oregon Department of Transportation to spend up to $2.1 million in federal aid on pre-apprenticeship training programs that will diversity the construction workforce.
The bill would increase the funding allocated to M/WBE workforce development programs by 40 percent.
