Griffin and Strong will host virtual public hearings for the City of West Palm Beach 2026 Disparity Study to gather community input on business equity

West Palm Beach, Florida – The City of West Palm Beach is taking steps to ensure fairness and equity in its contracting process with the upcoming 2026 Disparity Study, and residents, business owners, and community members are encouraged to participate in two virtual public hearings this September. The study, conducted in partnership with Griffin & Strong (G&S), will examine whether Minority-owned and Women-owned businesses have equitable access to City contracts and will help shape strategies to promote a more inclusive procurement process.

The first virtual hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. EDT, followed by a second session on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at noon EDT. Participants can register online for either session, and while advanced registration is recommended, it is not required. Both hearings will be recorded, and all comments provided will become part of the public record, ensuring they are considered in the study’s final findings.

The Disparity Study will focus on a range of contracting areas, including Construction, Professional Services under and outside of the City’s Competitive Contracting Negotiation Act (CCNA), Other Services, and Goods. The goal is to determine whether there are disparities in the awarding of contracts and, if so, identify contributing factors and provide actionable recommendations to improve access for historically underrepresented businesses.

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Community involvement is considered essential to the study’s success. The City is seeking input from a broad spectrum of stakeholders: business owners who have successfully worked with the City, those who have attempted to secure contracts but faced challenges, and even those who have opted not to pursue City contracts. “Community participation is essential to ensuring diverse voices are heard and to advancing more equitable outcomes,” the City emphasized. By sharing experiences, challenges, and suggestions, participants will help shape a procurement system that is fairer, more transparent, and more responsive to all businesses.

Griffin & Strong has provided online registration links to make participation easy and accessible. The first session can be joined through this registration link, and the second session can be accessed via this link. In addition, the study has its own website, https://westpalmbeachdisparitystudy.com/, where participants can find further details, submit comments, or reach out with questions. Griffin & Strong has also established a dedicated email for inquiries at [email protected].

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The City of West Palm Beach has consistently demonstrated its commitment to fostering inclusivity and fairness in its procurement practices, and the 2026 Disparity Study represents a continuation of that effort. By engaging directly with the community and ensuring a wide array of voices are considered, the City hopes to identify barriers and develop meaningful strategies to support Minority-owned and Women-owned businesses across all sectors.

For business owners, residents, and community members, this is an opportunity to contribute to a process that could shape how the City conducts contracting for years to come. With virtual access and multiple opportunities to participate, stakeholders are encouraged to make their voices heard and help ensure the City’s procurement process reflects fairness, equity, and transparency.