TRENTON, N.J. — The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) seeks the support of the Murphy Administration, NJ State Senate President Nicholas P. Scutari, Assemblyman and Speaker, Craig J. Coughlin, and NJ State Representative, and NJ Legislative Black Caucus Chair, Shavonda E. Sumter, in its request for a moratorium and on all non-emergency public procurement contracts up to five million effective immediately.
The AACCNJ formed a task force to spearhead the next steps with the Murphy Administration as a result of the findings of the State’s commissioned study, conducted by Mason Tillman Associates, LTD, which documented the institutional discrimination to African American businesses in NJ. The body of the Task Force believes that the moratorium is important because there are still opportunities that will be presented by the Murphy administration to consider but without an immediate moratorium, the same outcome will occur for those that have benefitted in the past.
“The moratorium will be a precursor to finding a remedy to the gross harm done to Black businesses in the state procurement process,” said John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President & CEO, AACCNJ.
“We believe this can be done without legislative approval. Contracts are still being doled out as we wait for the next steps. It is business as usual; this step is necessary; and past practices may be accelerated in anticipation of new standards to level the playing field,” said Harmon.
The task force is co-chaired by Dr. Denise Anderson, Denise Anderson and Associates and Ferlanda Nixon, Esq., Chief of Public Policy & External Affairs, AACCNJ. Committee Members include John E. Harmon, Sr., President CEO, AACCNJ, Gary Mann, Chairman of the Board, AACCNJ, Tammeisha Smith, Vice Chair of the Board, Stan Prater, Senior Advisor to AACCNJ President & CEO, Tanya Freeman, Esq, Chair of the Board, NY State Black Business Alliance (NYSBBA), Robert Johnson, Esq., Secretary, AACCNJ, Board of Directors, Marcus Dyer, CPA, Treasurer, AACCNJ, Board of Directors, Robert Warrington, Esq., AACCNJ Board of Directors, and Monique Nelson, Executive Chair, UWG.
“We anticipate more recommended best practices to ensure a more equitable participation for Black businesses in public procurement as we go forward to codify definitive goals that incentivize inclusion and cement our mutual commitment to have a stronger and more equitable economy with the Murphy administration, and public stakeholders,” said Harmon.
“We see the acceptance of this requested moratorium as a good faith effort to advance the state’s procurement efforts more equitably.”
AACCNJ Press Release: The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) hosted a Town Hall Meeting with over three hundred in attendance. Topic: “The Fierce Urgency of Now” – A Presentation on the State’s Disparity Study on Feb. 8, 2024.
“As we move forward, we ask the Governor and his administration to also hold a statewide meeting, to discuss the results of the disparity study,” said Harmon.
“The Administration needs to establish a race and gender-based program with minority and woman-owned business utilization goals to end the discriminatory practices in its award of contracts,” said Harmon.
“Our mutual goal henceforth is to have a more equitable participation in every area of the public sector wherein economic opportunities exist.”
“The Study, as expected, revealed that African American businesses received little of the $ 18.5 billion the Murphy administration spent on contracts for construction, professional services and goods and services from 2015 to 2020,” said John E. Harmon, Sr.
“While expecting the worst, little did we know that the Study would document African Americans received less than one (1) percent of the $18.5 billion dollars the State awarded to contractors. African American businesses received a pittance despite the fact that we represent, 14 percent of the population, and over 10 percent of the businesses in New Jersey willing and able to contract with the State.”
For updates on events and actions related to the recent Disparity Study, please visit aaccnj.com.
About the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American business leaders, to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic diversity fostering a climate of business growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy. The Chamber serves as a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c) 3 tax exemption, which is shared by the National Black Chamber of Commerce.