ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation establishing 6 percent goal for state contracting with companies owned by service-disabled veterans.
The bill passed in March by the Senate and Assembly creates a state procurement unit to develop and coordinate a statewide plan promoting contracting by state agencies with certified companies.
It calls for compiling a public directory of those businesses and reporting annually on progress meeting the 6 percent goal.
The governor’s office says New York is home to about 900,000 veterans and three major active duty military installations at Fort Drum, Fort Hamilton and West Point.
State Sen. Greg Ball, a veteran and Hudson Valley Republican who sponsored the bill, says it should do more to reverse high veterans’ unemployment than anything else New York officials do.
