White Plains, NY — The Westchester County Board of Legislators on Monday passed a measure encouraging the hiring of businesses owned by service-disabled veterans in all County contracts.

The SDVOB Act passed the legislature unanimously Monday night.

The measure was proposed by Legislator Margaret Cunzio, (C - Mount Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville). It requires departments and offices of the County to encourage the participation in contracts of Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB) that have been certified by New York State.

Legislator Cunzio has advocated for the SDVOB Act since the last legislative term and has worked closely with William Segel, a combat veteran and SDVOB owner who lives in her district, and with Ron Tocci, Westchester’s Director of Veterans Services.

“William and other veterans deserve our gratitude for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf but they also deserve real world opportunities to establish themselves and their businesses once their service time has ended,” Cunzio said.

“Because of their military experience, veteran business owners tend to have strong leadership skills, work ethic and discipline. All the things we look for when contracting with private businesses on behalf of Westchester taxpayers. Veterans often hire other veterans and that is a sector of the employment market that needs and deserves special attention,” Cunzio added.

County Executive George Latimer said, “This measure is a common sense way to do what we can in here in Westchester to help those who gave so much to help us. I am proud of the work done here by my colleagues in government on the Board of Legislators to honor Westchester’s approximately 40,000 veterans. I look forward to signing this bill and – through our Director of Veterans Services Ron Tocci – overseeing its implementation.”

Legislator Catherine Borgia (D- Briarcliff Manor, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Ossining, Peekskill) said, "This legislation provides a concrete way for the County to help our veterans, and it also will increase awareness among private employers that these companies are there, and inform service-disabled veterans who own businesses and may want to apply for certification."

Minority Leader John Testa (R- Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown), an early supporter of the SDVOB Act said, “This is a very effective and tangible way that we can show our veterans that we appreciate their service and their exceptional training. It is also an effective way to help them establish themselves as civilian business people and contribute to our local economy.

Chairman of the Board Ben Boykin (D – White Plains, Scarsdale) said, “One of the most important things we can do to help disabled veterans making the transition to private life after service, is to support their efforts to a build a livelihood at home. Encouraging the County to contract with service-disabled veteran-owned businesses is a great step toward providing that support. The unanimous backing for this measure shows that even in politically divisive times, there are things we all agree on, especially our responsibility to serve those who have served us.”

Westchester’s legislation follows a New York State measure that provides opportunities for SDVOB’s to participate in state contracts. Currently, there are approximately 15 state-certified SDVOB’s operating in Westchester County with nearly 450 such businesses statewide. These businesses provide goods and services across a broad spectrum of industries like construction/demolition, IT services, office furniture distribution, heavy equipment sales, staffing services, and pest control and janitorial services.

Under the County measure, the Veterans Service Agency will summit an annual report detailing the county’s efforts at hiring SDVOBs.