SELF IMPROVEMENT

minority  business  share
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he is exploring whether to give minority businesses a larger share of state work.

Kasich said he asked his Cabinet on Thursday to review operations and to report back to him on their agencies' ability to increase the 15 percent set-aside for state contracts that go to minority and economically distressed businesses.

He said Ohio has not been aggressive enough at promoting minority business growth, calling it beneficial to individual communities and the economy. Kasich says successful entrepreneurs are also positive role models for African American children.

His announcement follows one earlier this month that the U.S. Department of Commerce was partnering with nonprofits in Cleveland for the first federal minority business center to operate in the state since 2006.