News Release

Statement of Secretary Alphonso Jackson Regarding the Department of Housing and Urban Development Contracting Policies

I deeply regret the anecdotal remarks I made at a recent Texas small business forum and would like to reassure the public that all HUD contracts are awarded solely on a stringent merit-based process. During my tenure, no contract has ever been awarded, rejected, or rescinded due to the personal or political beliefs of the recipient.

Since I have been at HUD, African American-owned businesses have received 16 percent or $795 million of the Department's contract dollars. Hispanic-owned businesses have received four percent of HUD's contract dollars, or $220 million. Coupled with Native American and Asian Americans, 28 percent or nearly $1.4 billion of HUD contract dollars have been awarded to firms owned by minorities.

Since 2001, HUD has undertaken an aggressive campaign to improve access to qualified small businesses. This nationwide outreach effort included increasing small business staff and instituting a strict monitoring and reporting system.

Under my leadership, HUD's procurement doors have been opened to provide equal access to small businesses. HUD's small and minority business procurement success rate has helped move the Department from last place to first among all other federal agencies.