The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County currently operate programs to assist minority- and woman-owned businesses (M/WBEs) in participating in their contracts and subcontracts. In fall 2022, the City and the County engaged Keen Independent Research (Keen Independent) to analyze whether any disparities persist in the utilization of M/WBEs in their contracts and in the local marketplace. Keen Independent will also evaluate whether an equitable share of work hours on City- and County-funded construction projects is going to apprentices, as well as workers of color, women and local residents. As a result of this research, Keen Independent will prepare a contract disparity study and workforce disparity study for the City, and a separate disparity study and workforce disparity study for the County.
The studies will provide data about marketplace conditions and any disparities in City and County contracts and workforce participation. Study team member Customer Research International (CRI) will survey firms in the region to identify companies available for City and County contracts.
The study team will also interview businesses and trade associations about conditions in the region.
Keen Independent Research is a national economic consulting firm specializing in disparity studies for local governments. Principals Annette Humm Keen and David Keen are leading this assignment.
The Keen Independent study team includes law firm Holland & Knight, Customer Research International, and local public engagement and communications firms Added Dimensions LLC and Excel Business Concepts.
The disparity studies will be completed in fall 2023.
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