Written Proponent Testimony - Senate Bill 105 (William Murdock, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission)

Summary

William Murdock, Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), submits written proponent testimony dated October 25th, 2021, to the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee in support of Senate Bill 105. The testimony states that MORPC is the regional council for Central Ohio and a voluntary association of 75 various local governments in a 15-county region. It states that the bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, allows reciprocity, so that MBEs certified by the state through the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will have that certification recognized by all local governments across Ohio.

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                                               Senate Bill 105
                                       Written Proponent Testimony
                                             October 25th, 2021
                          House Economic and Workforce Development Committee
                William Murdock, Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

Chair Edwards, Vice-Chair Powell, Ranking Member Upchurch, and members of the House Economic and Workforce
Development Committee: thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony in support of Senate Bill 105 (SB
105), which requires political subdivisions to recognize state certifications of minority business enterprises, women-
owned business enterprises, and veteran-friendly business enterprises.

My name is William Murdock, and I am the Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
(MORPC). MORPC is the regional council for Central Ohio and a voluntary association of 75 various local governments
from urban, rural, and suburban communities. We provide programs, services, and funding related to transportation,
land use, data, sustainability, and economic prosperity. On behalf of our diverse local government members in our 15-
county region, we urge the passage of the Senate Bill (SB 105). This bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, is
crucial to providing vital support for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE’s) and eliminating unnecessary obstacles to
obtaining official MBE certification.

One of MORPC’s most crucial public policy goals is to help realize racial and social justice in the Central Ohio region
and beyond. As an organization, we are committed to lifting our communities in an inclusive, diverse, and equitable
way so that everyone can thrive regardless of their background. Minority-owned businesses in Ohio benefit in several
ways from formal MBE certification by having access to set-aside contracts, financial assistance, and technology
support. As we advocate for equitable development in our region, SB 105 would allow more space for historically
marginalized groups to grow their businesses and actively contribute to the regional and state economy.

Currently, Minority-owned businesses that are eligible for the state’s MBE certification must also apply with every local
government in which they operate. S.B. 105 allows reciprocity, meaning that MBEs that have been certified by the
state through the current process in the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) will have that certification
recognized by all local governments across Ohio.

If passed by the House, this bill would save minority-owned businesses costly administrative fees required to apply
with each local government, as well as the excessive time it takes to fill out each duplicate application. This bill would
also save local governments time by cutting out unnecessary applications to review by creating a more efficient and
state-recognized MBE certification system. Through reciprocity, Minority-owned businesses can take advantage of
the numerous benefits of statewide MBE recognition without the bureaucratic hassle the law requires today.

Thank you for the opportunity to express MORPC’s support of SB 105. Please do not hesitate to contact me, at 614-
233-4101 or wmurdock@morpc.org, with any questions or whenever MORPC can be of service.


Kind Regards,




William Murdock, AICP
Executive Director


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