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." The current local program is authorized for five years, he said, and the study is part of the process to extend or update it.

Hayden portrayed the office’s work as practical assistance for entrepreneurs and small firms seeking city contracts and other customers. "It is to create opportunities for small minority and women owned businesses, so that they can have a fair opportunity to do work for the city of West Palm Beach," he said. Services he described include city-funded marketing training, a class on responding to requests for proposals, a certification process for eligible firms and individualized business reviews scheduled for Oct. 14–16 at the city library.

Hayden also announced an event called "Prompt to Profit," described on the podcast as an AI-focused training series scheduled in September. Dates given in the interview were September 3–16, with some sessions noted between Sept. 6–8. The office is distributing flyers and posting details at the city website, wpb.org, Hayden said.

The office used city funds during the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute grants and capital to small firms, Hayden said. He told the podcast the city made roughly $500,000 available for an emergency loan/grant program and awarded nearly 40 grants; amounts referenced on the program ranged from about $5,000 up to $50,000. "We were the only municipality that I'm aware of that was taking money out of our coffers and providing it to the businesses," Hayden said.

Hayden described progress on formal contracting targets: "We started out saying that 15% of contracts would be set aside for small businesses. We're up to now 18%." He added that the office frequently attains about 20% on contracting goals. Hayden said larger prime contractors working for the city have also reached out to include small and minority businesses in subcontracting opportunities.

Hayden urged entrepreneurs to be proactive in seeking city business and using the office’s training: "You need to toot your own horn. You need to let us know that you're out there," he said. He told prospective applicants to consult the city website and to contact the Office of Minority and Women Owned Business for phone numbers and certification steps.

The podcast interview did not record any formal City Commission actions, votes or ordinance changes tied to the disparity study or these programs. Hayden framed the items discussed as program operations, outreach and federally framed requirements rather than new council directives.

A public engagement meeting on the disparity study is scheduled for July 23; the office will post details and registration information on wpb.org and via flyers, Hayden said. For more information, the office page for Minority and Women Owned Business on the city website is the recommended starting point.