COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

By His Excellency

FRANCIS W. SARGENT

Governor

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 90

    WHEREAS, it is the policy of this administration and state
to promote and facilitate the fullest possible participation by
all citizens in the affairs of the Commonwealth, and

    WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has recognized for many years the
special handicaps and obstacles faced by its minority citizens
in effecting full participation, and

    WHEREAS, minority business enterprises frequently face
special handicaps and problems in achieving viable economic
status, and

    WHEREAS, various public and private programs have been
initiated to assist minority business enterprises to achieve
economic viability, though many businesses have not been adequate-
ly informed of these programs because of inadequate coordination
and communication efforts, with the result that many services
available are never adequately delivered to those who need them,
and

    WHEREAS, the State government, as the biggest business in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has a special responsibility
to see that all available services and programs are put to the
best use,

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, FRANCIS J. SARGENT, Governor of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting under the provisions of all
authority conferred upon me by law, do hereby issue this order as
a necessary step to guarantee the fullest participation by all
our citizens in the economy of the Commonwealth and the fullest
benefits to our citizens of programs and services available for
assistance.

SECTION 1.  The Secretary of Communities and Development is dir-
ected to establish within his Executive Office an Office of 
Minority Business Enterprise Assistance.

SECTION 2.  The Secretary shall have all necessary authority to
utilize existing staff in the Departments of Commerce and Devel-
opment and Community Affairs to effect the purpose of this order,
and shall have the authority to seek such funds, public or pri-
vate, as may be available and needed to carry out this purpose.

SECTION 3.  The Office shall have a Director and, either on its
own staff or by contract with community groups, private companies,
or public or non-profit agencies, have available community liason
officers, financial and marketing experts, and persons skilled in
public and private contract procurement procedures.

SECTION 4.  The Office shall seek to develop a listing of minority
businesses within the Commonwealth, and shall, from time to time,
notify all such businesses of the programs and services available
to them, whether from public or private sources, or from local
state, or federal agencies.

SECTION 5.  The Office shall seek to obtain all possible assis-
tance from state agencies including, where consistent with
existing law, a limited amount of preferential contracting and
sub-contracting for minority businesses.  It shall assist minor-
ity businesses in making use of the contract set-aside program
operated by the various departments and agencies of the Federal
government.

SECTION 6.  The Office shall work with banks, insurance compan-
ies, and other private businesses in the Commonwealth to encour-
age the formation of seed money funds for facilitating the
starting-up and expansion of minority businesses.  The Office
shall provide assistance to minority businessmen in their efforts
to obtain loan money and operating capital from private and
public lenders.

SECTION 7.  The Office, through the Secretary, shall seek to
coordinate its activities with those of the Department of Com-
merce and Development, and shall assist minority businesses in
dealings with the Departments of Labor and Industries, Corporat-
ions and Taxation, Division of Employment Security, at least,
and shall provide assistance to the Secretaries of Consumer Af-
fairs, Manpower Affairs, Administration and Finance, Transporta-
tion and Construction in evaluating their respective departments
to determine opportunities for minority businesses and business-
men.

SECTION 8.  The Office shall seek to increase the amount of
financial assistance available to minority businesses from pri-
vate financial institutions, and may, from time to time, sponsor
conferences, workshops, or other informational programs.

SECTION 9.  The Office shall seek to encourage voluntary assis-
tance programs by which non-minority business employees are
loaned to minority businesses, or by which minority businessmen
are taken into viable business ventures to acquire training and
experience in managing business affairs.

SECTION 10.  The Office shall, through the Secretary, submit
annual reports on the minority businesses assisted, the type of
services rendered, difficulties encountered, and shall include
such recommendations for either legislative or executive action
as has been found necessary or desirable.

Given at the Executive Chamber in
Boston this ninth day of May in the
year of Our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and seventy-two and of the
Independence of the United States of
America, the one hundred and ninety-
sixth.

FRANCIS W. SARGENT
Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

JOHN F. X. DAVOREN
Secretary of the Commonwealth

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OFMASSACHUSETTS