[Durham INC] Durham Seeks to Implement Small Local Business Enterprise Program

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

News Media Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov 

http://Facebook.com/CityofDurhamNC 

http://Twitter.com/CityofDurhamNC    

 

For Immediate Release: October 25, 2012

 

 

Durham Seeks to Implement Small Local Business Enterprise Program

New Program Designed for Construction, Architectural, Engineering, and
Surveying Services; Information Meeting Set for November 14th 

 

DURHAM, N.C. - Small business owners in Durham, Chatham, Orange, and
Person counties could soon have enhanced opportunities to obtain
contracts to work for the City of Durham thanks to the proposed Small
Local Business Enterprise Program.

 

The proposed program, designed for small businesses that specialize in
construction, architectural, engineering, and surveying services, is
being overseen by the City's Equal Opportunity & Equity Assurance
Department. "Since receiving legislative authorization in 2011 to
develop a program for the Durham Metropolitan Statistical Area, we have
been working to create a race and gender neutral program designed to
support local small businesses that would enhance our MSA's tax base and
employment opportunities," said Deborah Giles, director of the City's
Equal Opportunity & Equity Assurance Department. "As part of the process
of implementing this program, we are hosting a town hall meeting with
our stakeholders prior to presenting this to the City Council for their
review later this year." 

 

The information session is set for Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at 6
p.m. in the City Council Chambers inside City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza.
According to Giles, the meeting will cover eligibility requirements for
the program, the certification process, how the program will work, and
the timeline for the program implementation as well as answer any
questions about the proposed program.

 

"We consider this to be a boost to our small businesses who are
interested in City of Durham projects since only businesses that are
certified through this program will receive advertisements and be
eligible to bid on certain projects," Giles said.

 

For information about the proposed Small Local Business Enterprise
Program or the upcoming information session, contact Giles at (919)
560-4180, ext. 17243 or by email at Deborah.Giles at DurhamNC.gov

 

About the Equal Opportunity & Equity Assurance Department

The City of Durham's Equal Opportunity & Equity Assurance Department is
responsible for the implementation of the City's Equal Business
Opportunity Program. Responsibilities include implementation of race and
gender neutral measures to facilitate the participation of Small
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (SDBE) in City contracting activity,
recruitment, certification, and maintenance of SDBE data bank, business
development, City project compliance, monitoring, and reporting. Guided
by the City's Strategic Plan, the department ensures that its services
support making Durham a great place to live, work, and play by focusing
on a strong and diverse economy, assuring that City efforts are well
managed, and supporting the stewardship of the City's physical assets.
To learn more, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/as/eoea/Pages/Home.aspx.  

 

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