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 field, then what exactly are minority owned businesses supposed to do?" he asked, urging better use of data, transparent bid scoring, and targeted supports to ensure firms can benefit from major events.

Negawa also said the upcoming World Cup could bring about $770,000,000 to the region and that the city should treat major events as a "springboard" for long-term inclusion of minority businesses.

Ajay Levedan, project director for BFW Group, described his firm's work as an owner's representative on projects such as the Riverview Wellness Home and said his construction-management company is seeking opportunities at the airport, the school district, the 30th Street Station corridor and arena projects. Levedan said many RFPs are not structured to match his firm's services and asked for better vendor outreach and portal matches.

Nor Bridal, who owns two grocery stores on South 7th Street, described sharply rising import and labor costs (which she estimated at 2020% in some products) and said nightly harassment by teenagers has driven customers away after 6 p.m., cutting evening sales nearly in half. She said she applied for the Catalyst Fund for small-store upgrades and is waiting to hear back.

Committee members pointed attendees to the Commerce Department and to OEO workshops and vendor portals (including the PHL Contracts system and a 2026 stimulus vendor profile suggested by staff) and suggested the committee could help connect merchants to application support. No formal committee actions were taken on the public comments during the meeting.