10 Sep City of Austin Disparity Study Small Group Business Owner Interview Sessions Your participation is requested

Dear Business Owner:
The City of Austin (“City”) is conducting a Disparity Study examining its Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise (“M/WBE”) program for locally funded contracts and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) program for FAA-funded contracts. The City is conducting this research to ensure that M/WBEs and DBEs have equal access to contracting opportunities and that the City’s current programs remain legally defensible and administratively successful.
We invite you to participate in the study through an online small group interview of business owners. These important sessions will provide an opportunity to relate your experiences with doing business with the City as a prime or subcontractor on City projects, or your attempts to do so, and any barriers that you have encountered. Your insights and experiences will help identify potential improvements in our M/WBE and DBE programs and encourage increased collaboration while promoting economic growth for all segments of our community.
Meetings will be held:
Date: September 15 through September 18, 2020
Please click here to register for an online meeting. You will be taken to a two-question survey to allow us to direct you to the appropriate meeting.
All persons requiring special accommodations, including language assistance, should directly contact Colette Holt & Associates, the firm facilitating the sessions, no later than one week prior to the selected session.
For questions and general information about the Disparity Study, visit the study website austin.disparity-study.com, or contact Colette Holt & Associates austin-study@mwbelaw.com, (855) 692-3529 or the City of Austin Small & Minority Business Resources Department, disparitystudy@austintexas.gov.
We look forward to your participation.
Sincerely,
Edward Campos
Interim Director 
Small & Minority Business Resource Department