California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 31 on Oct. 11, expanding small business and disabled veteran business enterprise participation in state contracts and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects.

Schwarzenegger said small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises make up 98 percent of all California enterprises, employ over half of the state's work force and are projected to create 99 percent of the state’s future jobs.

“Making small businesses and disabled veteran businesses eligible for more of the state’s $10 billion in annual contracts and billions more in federal stimulus dollars will help drive California down the road to economic recovery and create jobs at a time when we need them the most,” Schwarzenegger said.