LANSING – State Representative Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens) today voted for a plan passed by the Michigan House to allow small businesses to participate in the state's bulk-purchasing program. The move would cut costs and create jobs for Michigan workers.
"Michigan's small businesses, and the men and women who work in them, form the foundation of our economy – and we have to do everything we can to help them grow," Miller said. "Helping small businesses cut costs by giving them access to the state's bulk purchasing power will protect jobs and help create new ones."
The plan allows small businesses to participate in the cooperative bulk-purchasing program administered through the Department of Management and Budget (DMB). Using the program will reduce the costs of purchasing goods and services for small businesses, which tend to operate on extremely tight budgets.
Small businesses are defined as ones that are independently owned and operated, employ fewer than 30 employees, and have gross annual sales of less than $1 million. Neither small businesses nor vendors will be required to participate in the program. Businesses would pay a small fee to participate.
Currently, access to the state's cooperative bulk purchasing program is limited to certain governmental bodies and nonprofit hospitals.
"Small businesses will be able to achieve significant savings through the power of the state's bulk-purchasing program," Miller said. "Giving them access to this key program is another way that we are all working together to create jobs so we can turn our economy around."