Cook County, Forest Preserves and Health and Hospital System Host Public Meeting on M/WBE Program

Cook County, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the Cook County Health and Hospital System are hosting a public meeting as part of a new disparity study on the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (“M/WBE”) Program. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building, 69 West Washington Street, Pedway (Lower Level) Conference Room. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. The meeting will last approximately two hours. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input from businesses, community organizations and individuals regarding their experiences doing business or attempting to do business with Cook County agencies and their M/WBE programs, as well as identify any barriers to the full and fair inclusion of all firms in Cook County contracting opportunities. This is Cook County’s first disparity study. The meeting will also include a presentation on the study’s elements and will provide an open forum for comments and questions regarding the study process. Business owners’ and stakeholders’ insights and experiences with Cook County agencies and their contracting processes will help identify potential program improvements and support the agencies’ strategic objectives to increase collaboration and promote economic growth throughout Cook County. Through its M/WBE program, Cook County strives to achieve the full and equitable participation of minority- and woman-owned businesses in the County's procurement process as both prime and subcontractors. The County is committed to a policy of preventing discrimination in making procurements, and eliminating arbitrary barriers to participation in procurements by all persons, regardless of race, sex, or ethnicity. Under the leadership of President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County exceeded its M/WBE goals in FY12 (the most recent year for which statistics are available.)