LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Minority & Women Business Enter-
prise Coalition upon the occasion of hosting its 3rd Annual Statewide
MWBE Advocacy and Awareness Day, and paying tribute to Women in Business

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to recognize days
of distinction which serve to bring awareness to important goals and
objectives that affect the people of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Minority & Women Business Enterprise Coalition upon the occasion of
hosting its 3rd Annual Statewide MWBE Advocacy and Awareness Day, and to
pay tribute to Women in Business, to be held in the Legislative Office
Building, Albany, New York, on Tuesday, March 13, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The objective of the Minority & Women Business Enterprise
Coalition is to promote equality of economic opportunities for MWBEs and
to eliminate barriers to their participation in State contracts; and
WHEREAS, Through the MWBE Coalition, minority and women-owned busi-
nesses are afforded equal access to contracting opportunities on
projects throughout the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, There are 6,671 total minority and women-owned businesses;
3,431 are minority, 3,996 are women, and 801 have dual certification;
despite having the second-most women-owned businesses and third-most
minority-owned businesses in the country, New York ranks 9th in state
spending with such businesses; and
WHEREAS, Small businesses, including minority-owned and women-owned
businesses, constitute an important segment of our free enterprise
system and generate many of the new jobs created in New York State; and
WHEREAS, Programs of such high purpose and worthy accomplishment such
as MWBEs, whose endeavors contribute to the economic health and quality
of life of the communities of this great State and Nation, should be
recognized and commended for the fundamental role it has played as a
pioneer of progress; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when programs
of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention,
they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Minority & Women Business Enterprise Coalition upon the
occasion of hosting its 3rd Annual Statewide MWBE Advocacy and Awareness
Day, and to pay tribute to Women in Business; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Minority & Women Business Enterprise Coalition.