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Council hears 'Access GP' small-business initiative update; debate centers on a 30% aspirational SBE goal
Summary
City staff outlined Access GP (advancing contracts, community engagement and supplier success), proposed a 30% aspirational small-business enterprise goal and recommended rescinding a 2020 DEI-related resolution to comply with federal directives; council members debated feasibility, measurement and next steps and staff said a framework will be returned Feb–Apr with a planned October 2026 tracking launch tied to the ERP system.
Council members and staff discussed a proposed small-business initiative called Access GP and whether to set a 30% aspirational small-business enterprise (SBE) goal.
Cheryl DeLeon, deputy city manager, presented the update and framed Access GP as "advancing contracts, community engagement, and supplier success for Grand Prairie." She said federal guidance required rescinding a 2020 council resolution that encouraged diversity, equity and inclusion language in contracts, and that rescission is on the consent agenda as item 14 (the Mayor Pro Tem said item 14 would be pulled for individual consideration).
DeLeon described program elements: defining an aspirational 30% SBE goal, reviewing procurement tools for bids and construction delivery, creating measurement and tracking tools, and conducting outreach such as expos and training programs (for example, an "elevate" program to teach business formation and contracting). "So what the first thing is ... we discovered that federal legislation had changed," DeLeon said, explaining the need to rescind prior language to remain eligible for federal grant funding.
Council members raised concerns about the 30% figure’s feasibility and recommended alternatives including starting with a smaller initial target or using stretch goals. One council member noted that a disparity study had shown a market share near 27% and used that as a benchmark for feasibility. Several councillors said measurement should be annual and iterative rather than tied to personnel performance, and suggested additional outreach (surveys, expos and targeted marketing such as "shop local" campaigns) to build the pool of participating businesses.
Staff said they plan to bring an Access GP framework back to council between February and April for formal adoption, and described an implementation schedule that includes configuring and training staff and launching a tracking capability alongside the city’s ERP system in October 2026. "Once we measure it annually, we will be able to tell you where we're at," DeLeon said. She cautioned the council that the initial program may need adjustments and that staff will return with refinements based on feedback.
The council did not set a percentage at the meeting; the mayor reiterated that no goal would be adopted tonight and that the council will vote when an item is formally placed on the agenda. Several members expressed broad support for Access GP while reserving judgment on the exact numerical target.
