2024 Erie County Disparity Study
Erie County has contracted Griffin & Strong, P.C (GSPC) to conduct a Disparity Study (“Study”) evaluating the County’s current Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) programs, analyzing the availability and utilization of MWBEs, and determining any recommended changes, if necessary. Over the course of this Study, there will be several ways the local business community can be involved. GSPC 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 ErieCountyStudy@gspclaw.com.
Your testimony will play a critical role in improving current programs and/or practices, beginning with our informational meetings in the later summer. The Disparity Study anecdotal process will involve interviews, hearings, focus groups and written comment collection.
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION
Local Organizations
GSPC 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 GSPC to discuss your organization’s perspective or relevant experience(s) working with Erie County, contact us at ErieCountyStudy@gspclaw.com.
Anecdotal Interviews
Anecdotal Interviews are one-on-one interviews with business owners to discuss their experiences, positive or negative, doing business with Erie County or navigating business development in the region. This testimony can play a critical role in improving current programs.
Firms may be contacted by GSPC’s local partners, Mustard Seed World Group and Rodney J. Littles Associates Inc., for interviews. If contacted, we encourage your honest, transparent feedback.
Survey of Business Owners
GSPC will be conducting a Survey of Business Owners to understand the experiences of firms in Erie County’s marketplace in doing business both with and in the Erie County 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 ErieCountyStudy@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 July.
| DATE | TIME | VENUE |
|---|---|---|
| August 24th, 2023 | 12:00 pm ET | 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 Erie County, or its marketplace. All comments will become part of the public record and will be included in the Study’s analysis. The public hearing dates will be conducted during Fall 2023.
| DATE | TIME | VENUE |
|---|---|---|
| November 8th, 2023 | 6:00PM – 7:00PM | View Recording |
| November 9th, 2023 | 6:00PM – 7:00PM | View Recording |
Focus Groups
GSPC invites a small group of diverse firms to provide their view of doing business with Erie County, attempting to do business with Erie County, or explaining why they have not attempted to do business with Erie County, 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 or not. If you wish to provide a comment regarding your experiences, positive or negative, in doing business in or with Erie County, please reach out to us.
