Black business owners in Missouri will have a tougher road than before when applying for government contracts. 

On October 23, 2024, Missouri Governor Mike Parson rescinded were at least three executive orders that set purchasing goals for state agencies to procure 10% of their goods and services from minority-owned businesses and 10% from women-owned businesses. He did this in a single stroke of the pen by signing Executive Order 24-11, an order which rescinded 177 executive orders signed by past governors that Gov. Parson deemed "no longer necessary or applicable." 

Despite the 10% goal in the orders, the most recent survey of Missouri contracting and purchasing shows only 5% of State contracts are awarded to Minority Business Enterprises, and less than 2% to Women Business Enterprises.

State Conference President Nimrod Chapel, Jr. issued the following statement in response to the Governor's rescindment of these crucial purchasing goals:

"After you comb through 177 executive orders to find out what was removed, we were very dismayed to see right in the heart of that was the removal of opportunity for people who just want a piece of the American dream. To do so before an election sends a clear message to what the Republican Party's current leadership stands for."

The recinded executive orders related to inclusivity in government contracts were all signed by previous Republican administrations. The members of the Republican Party that recognize the move for the discriminatory action that it is should demand their leadership do better. 

Statute requires every State Department to set inclusivity goals. A new administration in Missouri will begin in January. Now is the time to demand the new leadership follow state law and open the door to business owners who are black, women, or just starting out.