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Public Hearings Scheduled Regarding Minority And Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Disparity Study

The City of Tucson (COT) and Pima County Government (PCG) are conducting individual Disparity Studies to evaluate their contracting practices with Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBE’s). The purpose of the Studies is to determine whether MWBE’s are underutilized by either organization. In connection with the Studies, public hearings will be conducted requesting comments from business owners who have worked for or attempted to work for COT or PCG or for a contractor or vendor engaged on one of either organization’s projects. The public hearings are designed to gather direct evidence from business owners who believe they were denied contracting opportunities because of their race, ethnicity or gender. COT and PCG are requesting all participants to give specific examples of any incidents of discrimination. The hearings will be held on the following dates/times and at the following locations:

Tuesday, January 22, 5-7 pm, Northwest Neighborhood Center, 2160 N. 6^th Ave

Wednesday, January 23, 9-11 am, Abrams Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Rd.

The hearings are open to the public and will be recorded. Community participation is a very important part of the process and the public is encouraged to attend. Comments may be also be submitted in writing at the hearing, by mail to Fields & Brown, Attn: Carla Fields, 1100 Main St., Suite 1600, Kansas City, MO 64105 or via email to kstein@fieldsandbrown.com. Please indicate comments are for COT/PCG Disparity Study. Please submit comments by February 1, 2008.

Both COT and PCG attempt to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person’s participation in any department service, program or activity. Requests for reasonable accommodation to participate in this meeting should be made to Alison Colter-Mack at (520) 791-4593 at least two days before the hearing. For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is (520) 791-2639. Alternative accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request.

For additional information, please contact Liana Perez, Director, City of Tucson Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, (520) 791-4593.