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Minority concerns holding up lottery contract

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 10:46 a.m.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Concerns about the number of black-owned businesses that may get part of a $7.5 million deal to promote a state lottery sidetracked a vote Thursday to award the contract to a Greenville company.

The South Carolina Lottery Commission, sued by four news organizations Wednesday for evaluating advertising bidder presentations behind closed doors, agreed to delay a vote on the contract until next week.

Erwin-Penland Inc. of Greenville scored the most points during the bid evaluations and has been in contract negotiations this week for the work.

The commission's request for bidders emphasized in bold print that ad companies wanting the work were encouraged to use "small, minority-owned and women-owned business."

That type of commitment has "no meaning if our actions are not consistent with our words," board member Aretha Pigford said during a board meeting Thursday conducted by phone.

Erwin-Penland initially said it would work with a minority-owned Georgia company to fulfill the minority emphasis.

But Pigford said the companies doing work with the lottery need to "reflect the face of South Carolina."

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