NEW ORLEANS-
New Orleans’ mayor signed an order Monday requiring that businesses use as many local and minority-owned firms as possible when they seek millions of dollars in tax incentives and grants for Hurricane Katrina recovery.
Mayor Ray Nagin’s executive order requires large businesses seeking the tax incentives to use 50 percent local businesses and 35 percent women- or minority-controlled businesses whenever possible.
Similar requirements have been in place for government contracts, but the order expands the requirement to businesses asking for assistance promised by various hurricane recovery programs.
“We just want to make sure we don’t go back to a city of haves and have-nots,” Nagin said at a news conference. “This is imperative, not only for us but for our kids and grandkids.”
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