Читать книгу Supplier Diversity For Dummies - Kathey K. Porter - Страница 31

The 1950s ushered in a new era of prosperity in the United States. It marked the end of WWII, which positioned the United States as the world’s strongest military power. One of the benefits awaiting soldiers returning home was the opportunity for entrepreneurship. The Small Business Act of 1953 established the Small Business Administration, commonly called the SBA. The SBA, now recognized as the leading federal agency focused on small-business growth and development, was required to guarantee a fair percentage of public or government-structured contracts to various small-business owners throughout the country.

The Small Business Investment Act of 1958 expanded services provided to small businesses. Its purpose was to counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small-business concerns in order to preserve and encourage free competitive enterprise. It also ensured that a fair proportion of the government’s total purchases and contracts/subcontracts for property and services were placed with small-business enterprises.

During this time, the economy was booming, and the bounties of this success were available to more people than ever before. The American economy experienced a shift that created more income for more Americans than in previous decades. This prosperity helped establish a solid middle class and provided the foundation for generational wealth. However, only a portion of society was benefitting from this newfound wealth and financial security. As the economic disparity gap widened, the 1960s were marked with uprisings, protests, and civil rights/Black Power movements within the Black community. This unrest brought new calls for equality and access to economic opportunities for the Black community.

Over the next few years, several presidents issued key executive orders to address economic issues impacting the Black community — employment, contracting, and entrepreneurship issues. For a while, these orders did quiet the calls for justice and access to economic opportunity. However, subsequent orders continued to be issued, highlighting the fact that this complex issue couldn’t be solved with a one-and-done order.

The following sections highlight the executive orders that had a direct impact on supplier diversity. They’re the foundation for how it has evolved today.

Understanding the context of supplier diversity allows organizations to create a program that fits their culture while addressing the issues of their small business community.