RESOLUTION 2023-05
Regarding Modernization of the Colorado Business Enterprise Program through Changes in Colorado Procurement Practices to Allow for Sales of Surplus Equipment
WHEREAS, the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind in Colorado and nationally has been the most successful employment program for the blind in history; and
WHEREAS, many of the program's practices and procedures are rooted in bygone times and archaic procedures; and
WHEREAS, in Colorado, many blind licensed operators have suffered significant business losses, especially during the COVID pandemic; and
WHEREAS, these lost profits have resulted in unanticipated and significant reductions in overall program funding for the Colorado Business Enterprise Program; and
WHEREAS, unlike most Business Enterprise Programs of this type and size across the nation, The Colorado Business Enterprise Program receives no state funding; and
WHEREAS, Colorado’s Business Enterprise Program currently has many vending machines and food service appliances that are no longer appropriate for use in Business Enterprise locations; and
WHEREAS, the Business Enterprise Program is currently not permitted to re-sell these surplus items, and these surplus items might be of interest to companies in the private sector; and
WHEREAS, the Business Enterprise Program needs to modernize all of its practices and procedures in order to remain competitive in today’s ever-changing business climate: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado in convention assembled this 29th day of October, 2023, in the City of Lone Tree, Colorado, that this organization call upon officials in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and all other relevant functionaries handling procurement for Colorado State Government to work with licensed blind Business Enterprise Program operators to develop a system that will allow the program to sell equipment which the program no longer needs.
Resolution unanimously adopted.