2024 City of Somerville / Town of Brookline Disparity Study
City of Somerville / Town of Brookline has engaged Griffin & Strong, P.C (GSPC) to conduct respective Disparity Studies (“Studies”). The purpose of the Studies is to determine if there is a statistically significant disparity in the relevant geographic and product markets between the percentage of qualified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBEs”) and Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“SDBs”) which include minorities, women, veterans, disabled persons, and LGBTQ persons willing and able to provide goods or services to the City and Town in each of the category of contracts and the percentage of dollars spent by the City and Town with such firms (whether as prime contractors/consultants or subcontractors/consultants). GSPC will be conducting surveys, public hearings, webinars and other public engagement meetings to serve this purpose. If your firm is contacted to provide input, we thank you for your participation. You may also email us any comments or questions at SomervilleDisparityStudy@gspclaw.com or BrooklineDisparityStudy@gspclaw.com.
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION
Local Organizations
GSPC also desires the feedback of organizations that speak for the local business community. Local business, civic, and trade organizations may be contacted to participate. If you desire to meet with GSPC to discuss your organization’s perspective or relevant experience(s) working with City of Somerville / Town of Brookline, contact us at SomervilleDisparityStudy@gspclaw.com or BrooklineDisparityStudy@gspclaw.com.
Anecdotal Interviews
The Disparity Study will provide an opportunity for feedback from business owners about experiences, both positive and negative, contracting with City of Somerville / Town of Brookline. Anecdotal interviews are one-on-one interviews with business owners to discuss their experiences doing business with City of Somerville / Town of Brookline or navigating business development in the region.
This testimony can play a critical role in improving current programs. Beginning with our Informational meetings in the Winter, the Disparity Study anecdotal process will involve the completion of anecdotal interviews, public hearings and focus groups. We estimate that anecdotal interviews will begin in April 2024.
If contacted, we encourage your honest and transparent feedback.
Survey of Business Owners
GSPC will be conducting a Survey of Business Owners to understand the experiences of firms in City of Somerville / Town of Brookline’s marketplace in doing business with the City of Somerville / Town of Brookline. All firms in the marketplace are invited to take the survey which will be sent out in February 2024. 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 anecdotal comments or questions at SomervilleDisparityStudy@gspclaw.com or BrooklineDisparityStudy@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 meeting in January of 2024.
| DATE | TIME | VENUE |
|---|---|---|
| January 24th, 2024 | 5:30pm EST | View PDF 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 City of Somerville / Town of Brookline, or its marketplace. All comments will become part of the public record and will be included in the Study analysis. The public hearings will be held in February 2024.
| DATE | TIME | VENUE |
|---|---|---|
| May 7th, 2024 | 5:30pm ET | Completed |
| May 8th, 2024 | 12:00pm ET | Completed |
| June 13th, 2024 | 12:00pm ET | Completed |
Public Hearing PDF Presentation
Focus Groups
GSPC invites a small group of diverse firms to provide their view of doing business with City of Somerville / Town of Brookline, attempting to do business with the City of Somerville / Town of Brookline, or explaining why they have not attempted to do business with the City of Somerville / Town of Brookline, in a discussion setting. Firms are chosen at random from each ethnicity and gender group of the Study.
Focus Groups are by invitation only.
Social Media
For information about scheduled events and Study updates, feel free to follow Griffin & Strong, P.C. 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 City of Somerville / Town of Brookline, please reach us on social media.
