In collaboration with the City of Oakland, Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. hosted four Business Outreach Meetings on October 21 and 24 to inform the business community of the City’s 2017 Race and Gender Disparity Study. The meetings brought members of the Oakland small business community together to discuss the importance of the Study, learn about the upcoming City contracting opportunities, and to connect businesses with technical assistance resources .
In addition to Dr. Eleanor Mason Ramsey’s presentation on the Study’s legal framework and methodology, Councilmembers Guillen (District 2), Gallo (District 5), Brooks (District 6), and Gibson-McElhaney (District 3) spoke at the meeting held within their district. Each councilmember discussed the importance of fostering small businesses participation and encouraging competition within the City of Oakland. Their participation affirmed the City’s commitment to improving access to City contracts for businesses owned by people of color and women.
Danny Lau, Assistant Director of the City's Public Works Agency, detailed the upcoming contract opportunities resulting from Measure KK. Measure KK is a bond measure that can issue up to $600 million in general obligation bonds to finance City infrastructure projects and affordable housing.
Businesses were able to connect with technical assistance providers including the Oakland Business Assistance Center, U.S. Small Business Administration, Oakland Workforce Development Board, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, SCORE East Bay, Working Solutions, Uptima Business Bootcamp, Sky's the Limit, and Main Street Launch.
You can access the Race and Gender Disparity Study presentation here and the Frequently Asked Questions here.
For business owners and advocates who were unable to attend, we welcome your feedback and encourage your participation! The City wants to hear from you regarding your experiences, comments, and ideas on contracting. Members of the business community can provide this feedback in three ways:
Submitting the online Business Survey at OaklandDisparityStudy.com under the “Participate” tab
Completing this Business Survey and emailing a scanned copy to Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. at OaklandDisparityStudy@mtaltd.com
Completing this Business Survey and mailing the document to Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. at 1999 Harrison St., Suite 1440 | Oakland, CA 94612
You can also indicate if you are open to speaking with us further about your experiences. Your feedback is essential to making sure your needs as an Oakland business are met!
For more information, visit OaklandDisparityStudy.com or contact Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. at OaklandDisparityStudy@mtaltd.com and (510) 835-9012.