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Small-business owners urge city help on contracts, safety and grants at EORC meeting
Summary
Multiple small-business owners and contractors told the EORC they face rising costs, weakened minority-participation tools, and safety problems that hurt evening sales; they asked the city to use data, vendor portals, and targeted grants to expand opportunities.
Several business owners and contractors used the committee's public-testimony period to press the city for clearer paths to contracts and faster access to grants and technical assistance.
Ray Negawa, who runs Veil Group and said he represents hundreds of immigrant and minority-owned firms, told the committee the city has shifted away from explicit minority-participation targets, which he said reduced tools that helped minority firms compete. "When the city takes away the very tools that helped level the playing…
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