BART is gearing up to welcome local entrepreneurs to its 2025 Small Business Summit slated for next Monday on the first floor of its Oakland headquarters at 2150 Webster St., where participants will get a chance to contribute to the agency's new disparity study and connect with both BART staff and prime contractors.
The summit, detailed in a recent announcement on BART's official website, encourages small business owners to learn about upcoming contracts, network with industry players, and take part in programs designed to bolster small-business growth and diversity within the transit agency's procurement process; on top of that, representatives from BART's Civil Rights office and Small Business Support Services will be on hand for questions about certifications and resources available to community entrepreneurs.
According to the BART news release, the summit aligns with an ongoing disparity study performed by BBC Research & Consulting, which seeks to better understand how women's and people of color-owned businesses fare in BART's contracting endeavors. Insights from the Bay Area's business climate garnered during a stakeholder engagement session will shape the study's findings and BART's future inclusivity efforts.
The series of events, which unfolds during what BART has named the Small Business Week from May 19-23, aims to foster connections and shed light on resources that could support local small businesses in obtaining contracts; during the day-long summit attendees can expect a series of talks, including opening remarks, a session on the disparity study, and dedicating an hour for networking between BART staff, primes, small businesses and community partners.
