UTSA Continues Top 10 Rank in Underutilized Businesses Purchases

The University of Texas at San Antonio continues to be ranked among the top 10 state agencies spending $5 million or more annually for the percentage of its purchases made with Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs). A recent state report ranked UTSA sixth among state agencies during the first half of fiscal year 2001.

"UTSA continues to be a leading supporter of historically underutilized businesses in Texas," said David Larson, vice president for business affairs. "Recognition by the state is a well deserved honor for the individuals at UTSA who are responsible for our HUB participation."

The university’s HUB program is coordinated by Cristina Peña-Walls. "We work to encourage minority and female-owned small businesses to bid on contracts and open market purchases at UTSA," she said. "As a result of this program, many of the university’s purchasing dollars stay right here in the local community."

During the first half of fiscal year 2001, UTSA spent $14,808,000 with more than 20 percent of those purchases involving HUB vendors. Last fall, the General Services Commission released a list showing UTSA spent over $5 million with HUB’s during fiscal year 2000, which represented 27.85 percent of all purchases made by the University.

The state’s HUB initiative was created to encourage the use of historically underutilized businesses by state agencies and to assist agencies in the implementation of this policy.

"This recognition of UTSA’s successful participation in the HUB program is the result of efforts by all faculty and staff at UTSA," said Ricardo Romo, president of UTSA. "I congratulate everyone for seeking opportunities to use historically underutilized businesses."