Howard County Government is currently undergoing a Disparity Study being conducted by MGT Consulting Group (MGT). The overall purpose of the study is to understand the effects of race, ethnicity, and gender on businesses’ ability to do business in the County’s marketplace, both public and private sectors, acquire capital, and win contracts or subcontracts in the markets in which Howard County does business.
As part of the process, the study needs to collect and examine qualitative data regarding discriminatory barriers or behaviors (to the extent that it exists) provided by business owners, professional organizations, and other marketplace stakeholders.
We encourage ALL business owners to participate and provide information about their experiences, particularly concerning discrimination while doing business or attempting to do business with the County and other public or private entities in the County’s market area. We hope that all firms, not just minority-owned, woman-owned, and disabled-owned businesses will participate.
Firms can participate in various ways, by either taking an online or over the phone vendor survey, use a website comment form, by emailing their experiences, by signing up and participating in a one-on-one in-depth phone interview or attend focus groups.
Businesses can sign up for a one-on-one in-depth interview, email their experiences, and find out information about participating in focus groups by emailing howardcountymddisparitystudy@mgtconsulting.com.
Businesses can complete an online or over-the-phone survey or fill out a website comment form at the County's Disparity Study Website.
To learn more about the study please visit the County's Disparity Study Website.