Contracts Coalition to Meet at Camp

The Community Coalition for Contracts and Jobs will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 15, at CAMP, 722, 18th Ave., to discuss ways to improve women and minority participation in state contracts.

Participation rates released recently show that since 2002, women and minorities have received fewer contracts each year from Washington's Department of Transportation. Across the state, minority businesses receive less than 1 percent of the states transportation dollars. Other state expenditures — in Education, Corrections, Human Services and a half dozen other agencies — show only slightly higher rates of participation.

"The figures show very low rates of participation by women and minorities," said longtime minority business advocate Eddie Rye. "We need to discuss ways to improve these figures."

To view the figures, visit omwbe.wa.gov. For more information. call Eddie Rye, 206-353-5770