West Palm Beach schedules July 23 public meeting for disparity study; city highlights expanded small-business supports

West Palm Beach will hold a public engagement meeting July 23 as part of a federally required disparity study for its small, minority- and women-owned business program, Frank Hayden, director of the city’s Office of Small and Minority Women Business Programs, said in an interview on the City Center podcast. Hayden described a suite of free services the office offers, including marketing assistance, an RFP training class, certification help and in-person workshops this fall.

The disparity study, Hayden said, is required under federal law to determine whether there is a measurable gap in contracting opportunities for minority- or women-owned businesses; its findings inform whether and how the city continues or adjusts programs that set aside or target opportunities. "According to federal law," Hayden said, "in order for you to have a program that will assist a certain minority group, you have to do a disparity study."…