Bill would give boost to veteran entrepreneurs

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Navy veteran Mike Nichols says veteran-owned businesses aren’t asking for handouts from the state, but they could use a little help leveling the playing field in competing with nonveterans who may have had more time to get on-the job-experience.

Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill to provide a bid preference of 5 percent or $5,000 to veteran-owned businesses competing for state contracts.

Ohio would join at least 27 states — up from 12 in 2009 — that have some type of law or executive order to help those businesses, according to the National Veteran-Owned Business Association. Some, including California and New York, go further by requiring a percentage of state contracts be set aside for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, as does federal law, said association spokesman Matthew Pavelek.

Nichols, who owns Prudential Construction Group in Dayton, said veteran-owned business could compete better with bids lowered by 5 percent.

“We’re just looking to get our foot in the door. Then we have to prove ourselves like anyone else,” said Nichols.