businesses provide supplies to the city with construction related items that we need on the site to do our public works projects. and now zula will talk a little more about what we do in terms of developing our women as well as other local businesses with our new pilot program that we just launched. it's called our business development program for local businesses. this is in addition to the local workshops that we provide monthly and with certification, how to do business in city of san francisco, to gaffigate through the maze that we see and provide assure itd bond program once a month. >> we have been noticing a decline in women owned business and public commercial contracting and that's what we do. we identify these

businesses. now these businesses are a little different than the business you heard about earlier. these businesses are the one who bringing work force availability to our city providing us with tax base monies to have in the local communities and serving and volunteering in the schools and communities and turning the profit back to the community they're they're an asset as well as the other business and women business are considered when compare toght the other business you heard the larger business you but we notice there is a steady decline in these business and there are variable factors that affect why this is going on. lack of access to working

capital. lack of access to public decision makers, knowing how to maneuver through the complexity of public works contracting procurement systems. there are 61 departments and sometimes they're all awarding authorities of the city meaning that they let out -- they solicit service or goods from vendors and we notice that back in i guess 19-- i mean 2009 we had 500 women businesses certified in various categories. today we have 310. so while we are a population, the growing population, the largest in the city, women. women business are doing really good with sba

receiving loans, working capital, et cetera, but when it comes to commercial government business they're on a severe fast pace i would say down slope. we are concerned about that so while we're restricted by 209 to limit to local business we felt it was important for us to launch this business focusing and gearing the program to women, and this would be a pilot program. it would run for 12 months. it would be two hours long. we will provide them with information how to respond to solicitation. how to take city resources such as the small business resources, utilize them for their businesses. how to understand chapter 14b, the tools that are there for their use, and how to network. how

to take their social network to a another level and develop a niche with that development and understand who the decision makers are and department managers and other line staff and get ton the problem of that department. learn that department so when you're in these public arenas, these mixers and events that we have you can have a conversation that may attract the attention of that department because women often shy away when in these groups if they don't really know a person. they tend to focus on dealing with other women and we want them to move their network from that keeping that relationship with women but move it further to the experts, to the bankers, to the venture

capitalists. we want them to include all of that as part of their business and also so they can grow their capacity and hire more people and employ citizens of our city, so some of the recommendations that we like to make for these commission status of women. we want you to continue to watch what we do at cmb, watch what we track, request reports from us on women and the status of their businesses. this is what we do. we want small business to help us in making sure that when we have all this opportunity this city is abundant with opportunity yet we're not always able to receive that for these businesses because one, no

funding. two, private development. we can have an agreement but there is no real participation after that, so help us with this, and make recommendation and direct us to do a better job. you can help us with the departments. they shy away from this and use the tools that are there and the micro set aside program was talked about and it can help businesses that are women, small and local business to have an opportunity with the city. it's not often used. i have been watching the city opportunity list and within five days i saw five projects under $50,000. should have been set aside. was not but it was public advertised and then they used key words like "mandatory [inaudible]

meeting." now that's a barrier for some of our business and when you go you don't make money. you spend money showing up cost you money, so we need to watch those unnecessary barriers and we need your help in helping us to monitor this program and so we can do better with women business and don't leave the city and continue to support your economy. women are just not trying to be a male only business. they're there. they're in business because of personal challenges. they want to work and take care of their families and all they're asking us is help to level the playing field. if we can do that in this government i think we achieve the quite a bit and we can grow new entrepreneurs and become the city that we know we are. are there any questions?

>> any commissioner questions? >> yes. first of all thank you for the presentation. very, very informative. one question i had was when you saw the decline in the number of women owned businesses from 500 something down to 200 something did you look to see if there was a corresponding keduction in the overall numbers of small businesses or local businesses, a corresponding reduction of the numbers regardless of the distribution of that make up? was there a corresponding decrease? >> there was a decrease in the overall numbers but it was greatly steeper for our women business enterprises who were certified. we can really attribute this to some of the things that zula just mentioned. we have a micro set aside program where we try to have --

it's i project set aside for a small size company so that they can handle it on their own. there is a lot as you can imagine as commissioners, there are rule exercise regulations in the government and it's complicated. >> >> this program is not for start up companies. it's for companies that have been in business but they want to do business with the city and county and we assist them in that way but we find a lot of businesses have difficulty really learning and navigating through the culture, through the ropes and happening what people say is the bureaucracy of the government. working with the puc is different from dpw or the port and port of the city thinks it's one entitiy and one computer system so that is part of the program that we're going to v it's a 12 month program

and will meet throughout the city so they make decision makers and staff in different departments and how specifically do i do business with the city and county of san francisco as well as park and rec. how do i do business with the port? and understand the intricacies as city and county of san francisco and government programs can offer our local businesses to show them how do we do this with the aspect of knowing that women businesses need to be nurtured, identified and they communicate differently and this is what we want to. do we want to provide the forum, the environment where the women can work together over the course of a year to grow and understand and thrive and perhaps get a different insight to opportunities. we don't guarantee any contracts. we

guarantee a lot of great information. >> any other? >> i want to add to that question. we did see an increase in the category called other business enterprises. we saw a major increase in certification of those businesses, and it's a good thing. i think -- about 1110 of the businesses and 310 of women owned business so it's kind of lopsided. >> the reason i brought it up is because i've gone through the position of trying to do business with the government as a small business. in fact i worked with beverly to get registered as a lb but 80% through my first contract and just in terms of feedback it's definitely without giving

specific arguments to support the statement i am sure there are specific issues that will support getting women into the program that is unique to womens' opportunities and the ability to participate in the opportunities but i would also say there is probably a fair dfg overlap if you say "hey how do we make the business environment better for all small businesses?" you will find an up tick because i could give a fair amount of feedback on how really tough it is, and it is extremely tough, but you know what? it's a tough pill to have to say but it happens to be the truth. there just isn't anything in life whether in the private or the public sector. it's the guy or woman that has the burning ambition and desire and will work sometimes 24 hours a day to do it just like you mentioned going to the meet and

greet sessions. they're take place in the evening. you're exhausted. i have done t i am floord and i want to sit down but i have to take the opportunity to learn something so we need to keep it in realistic perspective we can't make everyone a successful entrepreneur because 90% of them just don't have it, and the jury is still out on me personally and we will see how it goes and it's just a fact of life and i think if you spend some of the time concentrating -- well, how do we get the overall success rate and up tick in small businesses you will find that will help and the women section as well and that's the comment i make. >> commissioner, i agree with you. it's not our intent to ignore our other business. it's tough to do business with this complex city, yet there are great opportunities out there and we have not going to

participate in them then we're going to be left out. we're the ones here -- local business are here on in city in good times and in bad times. we're stakeholders. we're not leaving san francisco. we pay the tax base. we support our community. we buy in our stores, and i think it's our obligation to take a portion of the contracts, and that's what we want. yes, we understand working a business is a full time responsibility. it's very tough. you're isolated. it's difficult to express your needs whether it's insurance problems, bonding, capital, employees problem, but that's what we're here for. cmd is here to hear your program and develop programs to help you and we're not going to give up and i know you're not either. i am

looking on the positive side. there is so much opportunity. we have the right ingredients. what we have what mr. quinn said, a small business and a commission on status of women and a contract monitoring division and a contract administrator who believes in your business, so i think with that if we all start working together this is our time. i think it has come and we should cease it and cease it with happiness and enthusiasm. >> commissioner rodriquez. >> my very quick question is just we have this great data for the percents by service categories of the wbe's. does the obe and the other one mirror that? >> no. i would say that the obe's take up almost half of the 1110 businesses. >> right. but what i am wondering is what do they

provide -- do they provide services in and mirror the 52% professional -- >> yes. >> 25 general. >> exactly. >> so that mirrors the city -- 14% is contracts -- construction sorry. i am just trying to understand what they're getting contracts for too. >> the non women businesses -- they somewhat mirror for some of the other offerings but they really, really provide a huge great deal of numbers and a larger percentage for construction and construction related so we have more general contractor aid. we have b, specialty contractors from painting to concrete. there's more diversity with our contractors and it makes sense because there are a lot of opportunities and dollars put into our contracting as well as maintenance in our city, so for

males -- males companies and we have a lot of the construction companies. one thing i want to mention this program is a pilot that we're starting with women this year but in the following years it's for all local businesses but we wanted to start somewhere. >> [inaudible] even if it's a pilot program. >> local business and certified one through 10 we're going to welcome that business in. >> great. any other commissioner comments? >> can i quickly -- i want to first thank beverly personally. you're probably one of the most approachable and nurturing person any city agency so i definitely want to recognize that and myself many moons ago going through the program and representing a disadvantaged community the lbe program is probably the single most agency or program that works in san

francisco. it's the one that really, really bridges the gap. what i learned and the contracts i was able to achieve through the lbe program really just light years put my business at the time light years in advance. it would have taken 20 years to gain a contract without the program so i am concerned there is about a 40% decline in women lbe's that you mentioned and anything that we can do on the commission and i know we want to be there because i mean when you guys do on the program it's amazing so we want to help if we can. >> i also wanted to recognize that really the success -- we had to take the village mentality and i understand commissioner o'brien's comments and it's the hardest working but look at why the women businesses are declining it's not they're tired and not going to get up

but they have child care obligations and i heard over and over again that is one of the biggest barriers. i notice i regularly get the small business advisories and availability of meetings and it's great that we have so many programs. some are also offered during the day. i am wondering if there is a possibility to integrate child care with the availability of the meetings so more women could participate. >> [inaudible] that we have launched is that we are actually having it during the workday. the participants have to commit to attend at least 10 sessions, but the offering is during the workday and we hope that will help because most of the women that are certified do work the traditional workday, and they can make it then.

>> thank you commissioner. you talked about putting the caters in a pool and offering them opportunities out of that pool. well, this is what we recommend in a lot of cases. we would like to take those businesses who are now in food service and get them certified and as caters or another people within the department need to order catering food or service we can put them into a pool and pull them out and rotate the work around. that would help that emerging business. that would help increase our participation in women and certainly help the city and staying local with local business. >> [inaudible] other industries. i think sfmta is doing it in trucking. we have pools for work throughout the city as needed where they rotate the work, so we have different

models that we can use and perhaps use these models to go to a category in which could help develop and grow some more women businesses that are doing work and they want more. they want to grow with the city contracts. >> thank you for your good work. >> thanks. >> any other comments or questions? great. thank you very much. and do we have public comment? >> actually president under this section we do -- we would like to call from the agenda sf made we don't have a presentation but we do have informational comments by the director of the office of small business regina dick-endrizzi and also in the pack set some information. >> again regina dick-endrizzi. thank you commissioners. this sf made sends their regrets for

not being here. do want to acknowledge we are fortunate to have commissioner mark dwight who is a founder for -- are you still on the board? >> [inaudible] >> and founder and chairman of sf made and sf made is actually one of -- we in the city consider sf made one of our economic development organizations and it's relatively unique in the sense that it's very industry specific. it helps new businesses, but it's primary function is really help and support manufacturers and the manufacturing environment and if there is anything that you would like to add in relationship to that please free free, so janet lee from sf made provided some information on some of the stats for women in the san

francisco's local manufacturing, so -- may i have the overhead at all? you may not be able to read this but 48% of the local manufacturers are women owned businesses. 53% are in a parallel. 54% are women in food and beverage -- 54% are in the food and beverage sector. and note that apparel and food and beverage are the largest sectors within sf made membership that comprise of women owned businesses. one of the issues they wanted to bring up and bring to both commission's attention is that they feel it's very relevant to women in manufacturing the lack of child care options both in

terms of availability and affordability. especially there is a lack of child care approximate to the manufacturing businesses and it's not possible to put facilities in businesses that are zoned for pdr so perhaps this is one thing that we can take a look at work at the zoning level and they noted that this is an issue for both women owners and employees so when we maybe took a look at working to save our manufacturing environment and which is very important and a sector of the city to be able to grow and create we may have forgot what are some of the support needs that businesses have, so that was a recommendation that they had for the two commissions as a matter to possibly take into consideration, so again i think we have heard numerous times

tonight the issue around child care is a important issue in all business sectors. >> thank you regina. do we have any comments from our commissioners? do you have anything to add? >> ms. president soo if you could call for public comment on section c, growing your business. >> do we have any public comment on section c? seeing none we will move on. >> thank you president. commissioners this puts us on part five of your meeting public comment. president soo would you like me to open up public comment? >> yes, sir please. >> and would you like me to read off the speaker cards and lastly three minutes?

>> yes. >> i have two cards and you can come in any order that you like. [calling speaker names] and public comment will be limited to three minutes. you will see a timer on the podium. >> [inaudible] i am roberta guise chair of public policy of women in san francisco and also a small business owner. we are here to talk about equal pay. first i would like to introduce our president kathy cochran who will say a few words about aew and aew san francisco. >> thank you roberta. thank you commissioners and friends. we're delighted to be here. a very apropos evening and if there is one thing we heard tonight it's certainly important for us to work very hard for

the advancement of small businesses of women and not forget about the importance of equal pay and aew, the american association of university women has been advancing women and girls since 1881 and on the front lines for equal pay, the fight for equal pay for 100 years. they were there 40 years ago in the oval office when president kennedy signed the equal pay act and when president obama signed the lite ledbetter act and roberta is the chair of public policy and the fight is an on going one and a major priority of our national organization and they have encouraged us a thousand branches strong across the united states to acknowledge the day that is tomorrow, the equal

payday and bring that voak stroke to our communities. we are delighted to be here as part of this event this evening and roberta will share more comments about equal pay and some susassistantance for you after a long evening. >> thank you kathy. this meeting is serendipitous and tomorrow is equal payday and tomorrow is the day that women caught up with what men earned last year so women on average 70 cents per dollar a man makes and here in california it's a little better and it's 85 cents and up to a lifetime that is a lot of lost earnings and affects families and childrens and the small businesses in the city

but if you believe it's due to choices that women make and there has been a lot of chart cheart about that in the community. that's the primary reason let's look at some fact thes here. i learned about a chemical firm that was bought out. with the new contract the engineers discovered that the women had a bigger salary bump than the men did and previously paid less for the same work and i am sure you will agree that gap can't be explained by choices that the women engineers made, and a new gender gap has been discovered. last we're we released a study on college graduate earnings. the research showed that women worked full time earned 82% of what the male peers earned. after the research is controlled for hours, and occupation and other factors that we normally associate with