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Minority-owned businesses have historically faced disadvantages in obtaining the capital, knowledge and market access needed to grow and create jobs. Senate Bill 53, now pending in the state Legislature, recognizes those disadvantages, as well as the disproportionate economic harm that minority-owned businesses have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation will improve the access of minority-owned businesses when seeking contracts with state and local governments.
That access will be key to New Mexico’s economic recovery from the pandemic. Minority-owned businesses added most of the new jobs in the last U.S. economic recovery, research shows. Senate Bill 53 is part of a package of legislation proposed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to get New Mexico’s economy back on track. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Bill O’Neill, D-Albuquerque, will amend the state Procurement Code, wh