Legislation to Help Increase Business Opportunities for Disabled Veterans Passes Assembly

Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Hudson) announced legislation she sponsored passed the Assembly. The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act (A.9135) will set a 6 percent participation goal in the awarding of state contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.

“As a member of the Assembly Veteran’s Affairs Committee, I am committed to making sure our veterans receive every opportunity to succeed at home,” said Assemblymember Barrett. “This bill will not only honor our servicemen and women but it will also spur job creation and growth.”

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act will establish the Division of Service-Disabled Veterans’ Business Development within the Office of General Services (OGS). For a small business to qualify, it must be at least 51 percent owned by a service-disabled veteran who controls the day-to-day operations.

There are more than 900,000 veterans in the state and roughly 26,000 reside in Columbia and Dutchess counties.1 In addition, New York has the fourth highest number of veteran owned small businesses in the country.

“This legislation is long overdue,” said Barrett. “Veterans have tremendous skills that translate to the business world and they deserve our support to use those skills to be active, engaged members of our business community.”

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1 http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36000.html