2025 City of Bridgeport, CT Disparity Study
The City of Bridgeport, CT has partnered with Griffin and Strong (G&S) to conduct a Disparity Study (“Study”) to examine, analyze and determine if there are disparities that may exist Minority and Women Owned Businesses in municipal procurement based on race and/or gender within the Construction and Construction-Related Professional Services industries. Over the course of this Study, there will be several ways the local business community can be involved. G&S will be conducting surveys, public hearings, informational webinars, and other public engagement meetings. If your firm is contacted to provide input, we thank you for your contribution. You may also email us any comments or questions at BridgeportStudy@gspclaw.com.
Your testimony will play a critical role in improving current programs and/or practices, beginning with our informational meetings in September. The Disparity Study anecdotal process will involve interviews, public hearings, focus groups and written comment collection.
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION
Local Organizations
G&S also desires the feedback of organizations that speak for the local business community. Local businesses, civic, and trade organizations may be contacted to participate. If you desire to meet with G&S to discuss your organization’s perspective or relevant experience(s) working with the City of Bridgeport, contact us at BridgeportStudy@gspclaw.com.
Anecdotal Interviews
Anecdotal Interviews are one-on-one interviews with business owners to discuss their experiences, positive or negative, doing business with the City of Bridgeport or navigating business development in the region. This testimony can play a critical role in improving current programs.
Survey of Business Owners
G&S will be conducting a Survey of Business Owners to understand the experiences of firms in CIty’s marketplace in doing business both with and in the Bridgeport area. All firms in the marketplace are invited to take the survey which will be sent out later during the Study. If you do not receive a survey directly, it will be posted on the website, and you will be able to access it here.
Email Comments
For those who are not contacted to participate in an interview or focus group, are unavailable, or are generally uncomfortable providing public testimony, you may email us anytime with personal comments, questions, or concerns at BridgeportStudy@gspclaw.com.
EVENTS
Informational Meeting
To learn more about this Study, how to be involved, or to address any questions or concerns please attend our community informational meetings in September. There will be two in-person informational meetings held: one in English and the other in Spanish.
| DATE | TIME | LANGUAGE | RECORDING |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 10th, 2024 | 6:00pm | English | View Recording |
| September 11th, 2024 | 6:00pm | Spanish | View Recording |
Public Hearings
The public hearings are an opportunity for businesses and other community members to go on the record with their comments about doing business with the City of Bridgeport, or its marketplace. All comments will become part of the public record and will be included in the Study’s analysis. The public hearings will be conducted during Late Fall 2024.
| DATE | TIME | LANGUAGE | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 20th | 6:00PM-7:00PM | English | View Recording |
| November 21st | 6:00PM-7:00PM | Spanish |
Advanced Registration is recommended but not required.
Focus Groups
G&S invites a small group of diverse firms to provide their view of doing business with the City of Bridgeport, attempting to do business with the City of Bridgeport, or explaining why they have not attempted to do business with the City of Bridgeport, in a discussion setting. Firms are chosen at random from each ethnicity and gender group of the Study.
Social Media
For information about scheduled events and Study updates, feel free to follow Griffin & Strong on Facebook or LinkedIn. You may also provide commentary regarding the Study via social media, regardless of whether you are selected for a random interview. If you wish to provide a comment regarding your experiences, whether positive or negative, in doing business in or with the City of Bridgeport, please reach out to us.