The Daily Herald reported on an Aurora, Oklahoma initiative to build opportunities for minority owned businesses seeking contracts. The city council resolutions drew praise from the community among some skepticism.

A Task Force on Opportunities for Minorities and Women, consisting of twenty religious, business, trade-union and community leaders, was “asked to recommend solutions for increasing competitive participation in city contracting that better reflects Aurora’s diverse community.”

Officials cited outreach programs, better uses of technology and social networking as tools the Task Force planned to implement for improving communication.

The Rev. Julian Spencer of Main Baptist Church encouraged everyone to view the assistance being given “not as a hand out, but as a hand up.”

Fourth Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence and Ninth Ward Alderman Leroy Keith were the only two dissenting votes. Keith said he felt the plan could be interpreted as exclusive to certain groups and he would have like it to focus more on small businesses throughout Aurora.

“As a small-business owner, the last person I want help from is the government and I don’t need them to suggest to me how to run any business because they’re probably the worst people to get advice from,” Lawrence said. “This resolution to me says that there is a problem here in Aurora and I don’t believe there is. If anybody knows of somebody who was turned away because of their race and everything, you have an obligation to tell someone here and that person should be fired and prosecuted right now.”

Hustletown readers: Do you feel government should have a role in small business development? We welcome your feedback!