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PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
1-8-5 Minority - And Women - Owned Business Enterprises
1-8-5a: SUBDIVISION I-GENERAL PROVISIONS.
A. Short Title. This Subdivision shall be known and may be cited as the "Forest Preserve District of Cook County Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise General Ordinance." This Subdivision is applicable to all Contracts, except Public Works Contracts, which are governed by Subdivision II of this Section 1-8-5.
B. Preface and Findings.
1. Prior to an 2012 amendment to the Enabling Act of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (the "District"), 70 ILCS 810/0.01 et seq., which authorized the District to establish procedures to comply with State and federal regulations concerning affirmative action and the use of small businesses or businesses owned by minorities or women in construction and procurement contracts, the District did not have an ordinance specifically crafted to address the underutilization of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and barriers to the full and fair participation of M/WBEs in District prime contracts and subcontracts.
2. M/WBEs have contributed significantly to the economic development of the community, and played a similar role in increasing employment, including that of minorities.
3. M/WBEs may be awarded prime contracts and subcontracts in dollar amounts that are disproportionately lower than the availability of such businesses to perform Forest Preserve District contracts.
4. In 1988, Cook County adopted a Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Ordinance establishing an affirmative action program to ensure the full and equitable participation of M/WBEs in the County's procurement process as both prime contractors and subcontractors.
5. In 1993, Cook County amended its Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Ordinance to include specific minority and women participation goals in construction contracts.
6. The affirmative action program fo...
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