Commission pushes for proactive outreach, small-business supports tied to April Minority Business Expo

Commissioners urged proactive city action to connect local minority‑ and women‑owned businesses with the wave of upcoming development and upcoming conferences, including a minority business expo scheduled by the Mayor’s Office for April.

Several commissioners said the expo should be more than a one‑day event and recommended “speed‑dating” style sessions and roundtables that let small firms present capabilities to developers, contractors and procurement officers before bids are issued. Alvin Johnson, commissioner, described models used by local redevelopment authorities in past years — roundtables and business intake exercises — that assembled profiles of local firms in advance so public agencies and developers could match opportunities to local capacity.

Commissioners discussed several supports that could improve contracting outcomes for local businesses, including bonding pools, technical assistance from the city’s business resource center, and linkages with the Metro Chamber and Lowcountry Local First. Commissioners also noted the Business Resource Center and community partners such as the YWCA’s workforce programs and asked staff to coordinate with those organizations so that expo participants can be prepared to compete for contracts tied to upcoming projects such as housing redevelopment and riverfront development.

A speaker noted the city budget includes support to Neighbors Together, which operates a landlord–tenant clearinghouse; the speaker said they could not recall the exact dollar figure for the appropriation during the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to engage the Mayor’s Office and relevant departments to plan follow-up, and to consider building longer‑term engagement linked to procurement pipelines rather than a single annual event. No formal commitments of procurement policy changes were made at the meeting.