Some veterans say they’re being shut out by local leaders when it comes to getting government contracts.
Veterans groups are asking to be included in a disparity study commissioned by Orange County, the city of Orlando, the county school district and Orlando International Airport. They said by being included they hope to get a small percentage of the contracts. The agencies, however, are saying no.
The study has to do with the Minority and Women Enterprise program that helps minority groups land government contracts. They are currently conducting a study to see if contract work is being dispersed evenly and if any minority group is being shut out of contracts
Some veterans have been asking to be included in the study. They went to the Orange County School Board last week, asking to be included in the disparity study so they can be added to the Minority and Women Enterprise program. The school district, like the airport, Orange County and the city Of Orlando, said this program is not about veterans.
“In a lot of cases we are just flat out being ignored," said Michael Waldrop, a disabled veteran. "We are not included in their small business programs, when we call, when we try to raise concerns, it’s hard to even get a phone call back.”
Waldrop opened Blue Cord, his own construction and design company where he employs 14 veterans. Waldrop said getting government contracts is hard enough, and wants to see 2 percent to 3 percent procurements just for veteran-owned businesses. That's something he said 19 other states have done.
“I believe if we could do that locally, we could reduce the unemployment rate for our returning veterans because what are our veteran entrepreneurs going to do but hire other veterans?” said Waldrop.
Every entity told us this study just has to do with the minorities and women programs. The school district said it has a veterans preference hiring policy in place and that “the district is exploring means to provide opportunity for veterans when it comes to contracting.”
“Our eventual goal is just to have the county and the city and local state leaders to recognize veterans as business owners and entrepreneurs as procurements,” said Kyle Evans, a disabled veteran business owner.
When we reached out to Orange County, Errick Young who runs the MWE program said the veterans hijacked the first disparity study meeting they attended at Orlando International Airport. We tried to get minutes from the public meeting and no one could provide them for us.
We asked Young for information on the county’s current veterans ordinance and we haven’t heard back.
In Orlando, the city passed a veterans ordinance in 2013. To date three businesses have benefited from it, including Waldrop’s. Waldrop said the local ordinances are watered down, and don’t go far enough to help veterans.
Orlando International Airport officials tell us they have a federal grant program that helps veterans.
“Nineteen states have taken action to include veterans as business owners and to recognize them, not Florida,” said Evans.
We did speak with Florida CFO Jeff Atwater, who tells us veterans should be getting procurements and said it’s an issue Governor Rick Scott’s administration is looking into.
Waldrop said they aren’t giving up after the last meeting, they plan on attending the next meeting for the disparity study in January.