ATTN: Business Owners - City of Baltimore/City Schools MBE WBE Disparity Study Requests Your Participation

The City of Baltimore (“City”) and the Baltimore City Public Schools (“City Schools”) invite you to a focus group of business owners who provide a wide spectrum of goods and services regularly purchased by the City and by City Schools. The sessions are part of our Minority Business Enterprise (“MBE”) and Women Business Enterprise (“WBE”) Disparity Study. These important sessions provide an opportunity to relate your direct experiences doing business in the public and/or private marketplace in the Baltimore area, including your experiences with the City’s and the City Schools’ MBE/WBE programs. 

The focus groups are part of the business interview component of the Study. Your insights and experiences will help to identify possible enhancements to the programs and support the strategic objectives of open access to City and City Schools contracting and purchasing opportunities. Your comments will be kept strictly confidential according to established legal and policy standards. No information attributable to you will be included in the final report for the Study. 

The City and City Schools have engaged NERA Economic Consulting to conduct this independent third-party study. The focus groups will be held at the Small Business Resource Center. The schedule for all relevant sessions appears below. Refreshments will be provided.

 Location: Small Business Resource Center, 1101 East 33rd St., Suite C307, Baltimore, MD 21218

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. - Construction contractors, subcontractors, suppliers & related firms

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m - Architectural, engineering & other construction-related consulting firms

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, 2:30-4:30 p.m. - Service providers, Materials, supplies, and equipment providers

To reserve your space at the appropriate session, please contact NERA at 888-608-NERA

(888-608-6372) or BusinessInterviews@nera.com. Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations should contact NERA at least one (1) week prior to the session.

Disparity Study FAQ