The Westchester County Board of Legislators passed Legislation on Monday aimed at giving Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB) more of the County’s future contracts across all County Departments, Including Westchester County Community College. The legislation, which was first proposed by Legislator Margaret Cunzio (C) Mount Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville, requires departments and offices of the County to encourage the participation of Certified SDVOB’s in the county contracting process, and to document efforts to do so. It does not establish a fixed “quota” requirement. Westchester County’s Office of Veterans Affairs will prepare and submit an annual report in cooperation with the various county departments to be submitted by June 1st each year to the County Executive and the Board of Legislators.

The SDVOB Act was discussed and passed out of the Budget & Appropriations Committee, Chaired by Legislator Catherine Borgia and the Seniors & Constituencies Committee, Chaired by Legislator David Tubiolo. Westchester’s Legislation is similar to a New York State Executive Law which is designed, among other things, to provide opportunities for a SDVOB’s to participate in state contracts. That State Executive Order is currently set to expire on March 31, 2019.

Currently, there are approximately 15 certified SDVOB’s operating in Westchester County with nearly 450 such businesses statewide. These businesses provide goods and services across a broad spectrum of industries like construction/demolition, IT services, office furniture distribution, heavy equipment sales, staffing services, and pest control and janitorial services.

Legislator Margaret Cunzio has advocated for the SDVOB Act since the last Legislative term and has worked closely with William Segel a combat veteran and SDVOB owner who lives in her district and with Ron Tocci, Westchester’s Director of Veterans Services. “William and other Veterans deserve our gratitude for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf but they also deserve real world opportunities to establish themselves and their businesses once their service time has ended. Because of their military experience, Veteran business owners tend to have strong leadership skills, work ethic and discipline. All the things we look for when contracting with private businesses on behalf of Westchester taxpayers.” Cunzio added, “Veterans often hire other veterans and that is a sector of the employment market that needs and deserves special attention.”

County Executive George Latimer said, “This measure is a common sense way to do what we can in here in Westchester to help those who gave so much to help us. I am proud of the work done here by my colleagues in Government on the Board of Legislators to honor Westchester’s approximately 40,000 veterans. I look forward to signing this bill and – though our Director of Veterans Services Ron Tocci – overseeing its implementation.”

Minority Leader John Testa an early supporter of the SDVOB Act said, “This is a very effective and tangible way that we can show our Veterans that we appreciate their service and their exceptional training. It is also an effective way to help them establish themselves as civilian business people and contribute to our local economy.”