[CPN] RELEASE: Public Hearings to Address City of Denver’s Business Certification Programs

	City and County of Denver Office of Economic Development   Derek Woodbury Marketing/Public Relations Specialist O. 720.913.1608 derek.woodbury@denvergov.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Hearings to Address City of Denver's Business Certification Programs   DENVER, CO ­— Monday, August 13, 2012 — The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is seeking input from individuals and firms that have either procured business with the City and County of Denver or attempted to conduct business with the City. Public hearings will be held August 28, 2012 and August 29, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Denver Wastewater Management, 2000 W. 3rd Ave.   The hearings are held in coordination with a study of the utilization of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBE). The study will examine the City's procurement of services and products, the subcontracting participation of prime contractors/service providers who do business with the City, and anecdotal evidence collected from M/W/DBE and non-M/W/DBE firms. The results of the study will provide an update to the City's current M/W/DBE program.   The study will analyze the following three categories of contracting opportunities in order to identify whether a statistical disparity exists:   ·         The award and procurement of construction and construction-related professional services contracts funded by the City and awarded by the City's Departments of Aviation, General Services, Public Works, and other departments and agencies;   ·         The award and procurement of concession-related goods and services contracts at Denver International Airport;   ·         The procurement of services by the City's Department of General Services Purchasing Division specific to general business services; building management and maintenance services; parking services; furniture, fixtures and equipment; communication equipment and services; security services; maintenance and repair services, including landscaping and waste management services.   M/WBE, DBE and ACDBE certifications are offered through the OED Division of Small Business Opportunity. The programs help connect businesses with construction and professional service contracts throughout the City and concession opportunities at DIA.   The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity for the City of Denver, its businesses, neighborhoods and residents. Working with a wide variety of community partners, OED operates to create a local environment that stimulates balanced growth through job creation, business assistance, housing options, neighborhood redevelopment and the development of a skilled workforce.     ###