Faced with years of complaints that Prince George's County has not given minority-owned companies enough contracts, officials have again proposed shaking up the county's minority-business certification process to steer more business their way.

The initiative, proposed in a County Council bill introduced this week, would shift responsibility for certifying and contracting with minority-owned businesses to the county's purchasing department, not a political board. A similar bill introduced in November died when the council's legislative year ended Dec. 31.

The renewed effort comes as officials continue to express concern that locally owned minority contractors continue to experience problems landing choice deals with the county and other major companies.

''This bill is going to expand the opportunities for minority businesses," said John Erzen, spokesman for County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D).

It is an issue that has been argued in the county since as early as 2005, when leaders paid $372,000 for a private study that analyzed minority-business contracting in Prince George's.
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