North Carolina Department of Transportation 2019 Disparity Study
Griffin & Strong, P.C. (“GSPC”) is a law and public policy consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA that is under contract with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to conduct a Disparity Study (“Study”) to determine the absence or presence of discrimination in state and federal highway-aid transportation contracting in North Carolina.
This study will focus on the availability and utilization of Minority-owned, Women-owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (collectively “M/W/DBEs”) in the Federal program and examine relevant evidence of the effects of race-based or gender-based discrimination upon the utilization of such businesses in contracts for planning, design, pre-construction, construction, alteration, or maintenance of State transportation systems, such as highways and bridges, rail, ferry, airports, facilities, and public transit, and in the procurement of materials fo these projects.
The Study will also provide recommendations on remedies to address any identified underutilization, including both race- and gender-conscious and race- and gender-neutral alternatives. All recommendations will be based on study findings.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Over the past year, GSPC and NCDOT have engaged with the local business community to gather feedback on contracting access. Anecdotal evidence collection for this project has now concluded. We thank you for your feedback and participation and encourage you to stay engaged with the study process and updated by connecting with Griffin & Strong via Twitter @GriffinStrong. For any questions, feel free to email us at NCDOTStudy@gspclaw.com
ANECDOTAL INTERVIEWS
Qualitative Outreach and Anecdotal Interviews
NCDOT 2019 Disparity Study will provide opportunity for community feedback and engagement through the gathering and solicitation of community commentary. Beginning with our Informational meetings, the 2019 Disparity Study anecdotal process will involve the completion of anecdotal interviews, public hearings and focus groups. If you are contacted for an interview, we thank you in advance for your participation.
Anecdotal interviews are currently underway. Local team member, Bridget Wall and BL Wall Consulting, are in the midst of calling and scheduling interviews with business owners across the state. We encourage you, If you are contacted for an interview, to participate. We thank you in advance for your participation.
For those who are not contacted to participate in an interview or focus group, are unavailable due to scheduling conflict, or generally uncomfortable providing public testimony but wish to provide commentary on your experiences doing business, or attempting to do business with NCDOT, you may email us anytime with comments or questions at NCDOTStudy@gspclaw.com.
Informational Meetings
Thank you to all of the North Carolina business owners and attendees who joined us to learn more about this study and how to be involved. If you were unable to join us, you may view our Informational Meeting PPT Below
Download Informational Meeting Presentation
| DATE & TIME | VENUE | ADDRESS |
|---|---|---|
| January 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
Goodwill Opportunity Campus | 5301 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208 |
| January 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
John Chavis Community Center | 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27601 |
| January 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
Cumberland County Public Library | 300 Maiden Lane Fayetteville, NC 28301 |
ORGANIZATIONAL INTERVIEWS
GSPC places importance on identifying and engaging local business, civic, and trade organizations. If you represent a North Carolina based business or advocacy organization and are interested in being interviewed, please Contact Us and we will reach out to you to schedule an interview.
Public Hearings
At the public hearings, comments regarding both positive and negative interactions with NCDOT and in the public and private sector business communities will be heard and recorded by a court reporter and the GSPC team. All comments provided during the public hearings will become public record and will be included in the Study analysis.
NCDOT Public Hearings will be held the week of June 10th-13th in Wilmington, Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh/Durham area. Please see below for an update on scheduled event dates and locations and feel free to register under Eventbrite. Registration is encouraged, but not required for attendance.
| DATE & TIME | VENUE | ADDRESS |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, June 10th, 2019 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center | 285 Livingston St. Asheville, NC. 28801 |
| Monday, June 10th, 2019 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
MLK Community Center Community Room |
401 S. 8th St. Wilmington, NC. 28401 |
| Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
Cameron Village Regional Library Room 202 & 202A |
1930 Clark Ave. Raleigh, NC 27605 |
| Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship | 1451 S Elm-Eugene St. Greensboro, NC 27406 |
| Thursday, June, 13th, 2019 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm |
Charlotte Public Library | Beattie Ford Road Branch Charlotte, NC. 28216 |
SURVEY OF BUSINESS OWNERS
It is NCDOT’s desire to promote a diverse and equitable business environment that will benefit all communities. Therefore, GSPC has partnered with Creative Research Solutions and BLWall Consulting, a North Carolina based, HUB firm, to conduct surveys to gather impressions and experiences in contracting or attempting to contract with NCDOT.
The NCDOT Online Survey of Business Owners is now active. Interested vendors may access the NCDOT Online Survey of Business Owners by accessing the survey link below:
NCDOT Online Survey of Business Owners
Some additional firms may be contacted by BLWall Consulting for a brief follow up survey via phone. If contacted, we thank you in advance for your participation.
Both surveys will take between 5-10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact GSPC via email at NCDOTStudy@gspclaw.com.
