Hudson County Executive Craig Guy announced today that the county’s first ever disparity study to will launch on February 1st.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Specifically, the county is aiming to do a joint disparity study of how they and their subsidiary agencies do business in order to assess whether there is a level playing field for small and diverse businesses seeking contracts.
“As I made clear in my inaugural remarks earlier this month, diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to the success of my administration—an administration committed to expanding opportunity for all our residents,” Guy said in a statement.
“That is why I am pleased that our first major policy action is this study, including launch of a major survey of our business community, scheduled for February 1st.”
The Department of Planning and Business Opportunity has engaged Keen Independent Research, a national economic consulting firm, to prepare the disparity study.
They will examine participation of minority, woman, and veteran-owned enterprises in Hudson County government contracting and in that of the other participating agencies. It will also look at conditions for these businesses in the local marketplace.
“Hudson County recognizes the crucial role of small and minority, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses in our community as local job creators,” added Board of Commissioners Chair Anthony Romano.
“In recent years, we have tripled our overall spending with these types of businesses but this study will help us see where and how we can do more.”
In addition to the county government, county subsidiary agencies, including the Hudson County Improvement Authority, Hudson County Schools of Technology and Hudson County Community College will be assessed by the study.
“It was vital that this study be conducted by the highest quality national professionals we could find. We believe Keen absolutely meets that standard,” explained County Department of Planning and Business Opportunity ShaRonda Walker.
Keen Independent Research, based in Phoenix, Arizona, specializes in disparity studies for local government. The firm was selected through a process conducted by the Hudson County Office of Business Opportunity and approved by the county commissioners.
Furthermore, Disparity Study Team will be tasked with surveying firms in the region to identify companies available for contracts with Hudson County government and the other participating county agencies.
In-depth interviews will also be conducted with local businesses and trade associations, officials said.
i’m guessing that all the big time donors will be exempt from the this