Happy Spring, Tabor Neighbors!
As the daffodils bloom and the weather warms, Tabor 100 is offering its members more than ever and working hard as a catalyst to your business success.

We are partnering with many other organizations, for profit and non, to offer better ways for you to grow your enterprise. Whether it be the City of Seattle, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, the Skyway Project (residential construction) or the State Department of Transportation, and many others, we are focused on your profitability. Check out the website or talk with Tabor 100 staff who are at the HUB from 8-8 Monday – Thursday and 8-5 on Fridays

I hope you enjoyed last year’s Tabor 100 Gala. I was pleased to see so many Tabor members and community partners in attendance. This year, we will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary and the Gala will be the biggest and best ever. Save September 7 on your calendar, but more importantly, make your mark on the event – your expertise isneeded! We have seven committees from Program Planning to Silent Auction, Graphic Design and others. Lend a hand and help create one of the most memorable nights of the year!

Elsewhere in this newsletter is a summary of the state legislative session. I want to thank all the Tabor 100 members and others who visibly supported key legislation critical for the success of minority businesses. You came out in force to support SB 6040, which begins to address a universal problem for businesses across the board – being paid promptly. Kudos to long-time Tabor member, Senator Javier Valdez, for his stalwart support of this legislation. We are just beginning to tackle the issue of “prompt pay.” Work on this item will occur over the next several months and your help will be needed again so stay tuned.

As I have done before, I ask that you participate in Disparity Studies. This session, the Legislature authorized a study to determine disparities in contracting with the State of Washington. This one is critical given some disappointing numbers regarding our opportunities with various state agencies. Studies like these will help fend off court challenges to eliminate programs to assist our businesses. There are currently several legal challenges to these programs nationwide and it is critical that we continue striving for contract equity and not have it stripped away in the courts.