City of Pittsburgh and Regional Partners Launch Interviews and Surveys as Next Step in Pittsburgh Regional Disparity Study
Call for Input from Local Businesses and Professional Organization Stakeholders
Pittsburgh, PA – The City of Pittsburgh, Regional Consortium partners, and MGT are excited to announce the next step in the Pittsburgh Regional Disparity Study with the official launch of virtual in-depth interview opportunities and an online business survey.
Since kicking-off the study in April 2025, MGT has engaged with members of our region’s diverse business community, large and small, and with Consortium members to better understand the challenges and opportunities to participation within our local economy. The focus now shifts to engage local businesses, more deeply, and professional organizations, such as small business development centers, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, funders, and technical assistance providers. We are seeking input from business owners, particularly those who have done or attempted to do business with the City or its partners, as well as professional organizations, to share their experiences, perspectives, and insights.
“To grow as a region, we cannot keep doing business as we have before, leaving behind significant portions of our population behind,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “This study marks an important step toward building a stronger, more equitable business environment. It will provide a comprehensive roadmap of the current economic opportunities across our region and identify what actions are needed to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive not just survive. Economic inclusion isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of the city and region we have been building over the last four years.”
The City and Regional Consortium partners urge all business owners and professional organizations to participate by sharing their perspectives and insights. Their involvement is critical to informing the results of the study and shaping policies that enhance the region’s economic landscape to promote fair access to opportunities.
As part of the study, MGT and their subcontractors are conducting virtual in-depth interviews and collecting online business survey responses. All businesses, regardless of size or ownership, are encouraged to participate. To learn more, sign-up for an interview, or complete a survey, please visit engage.pittsburghpa.gov/disparity-study.
About the Pittsburgh Regional Disparity Study
The Pittsburgh region’s economic future depends on the strength, creativity, and competitiveness of its businesses. To remain a region where companies can thrive, all capable businesses regardless of size, ownership, or background must have access to opportunities that fuel innovation, job creation, and inclusive growth. The public sector, as both policymakers and purchasers of goods and services, plays a critical role in enhancing vendor diversity and competition, inclusive workforce development, job quality, and local economic empowerment.
This Regional Disparity Study, the first in over twenty years, will provide the tools to ensure that minority, women, and LGBTQ-owned businesses have equitable opportunities to participate in both public and private sector contracting across our region. More specifically, it will:
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Assess the availability of minority, women, and LGBTQ-owned businesses across key industries;
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Analyze participation of these businesses in public sector contracts;
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Identify whether any disparities exist between the availability and participation of these businesses;
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Assess the effectiveness of current procurement practices;
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Identify key challenges and barriers to these businesses participating in our regional economy; and
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Offer recommendations to open more pathways for competitive, capable businesses
The study also includes an Economic Impact Analysis to evaluate how supplier diversity, business diversity, and related programs impact competition, job creation, revenue growth, and tax generation, all of which directly affect our region’s business climate.
About the Regional Consortium
The Pittsburgh Regional Disparity Study is led by the City in partnership with five (5) other public partners, including Allegheny County, the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, the Sports & Exhibition Authority, Pittsburgh Water, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Together, these agencies represent the largest public-sector collaboration of its kind in our region’s history, committed to understanding and addressing any barriers faced by minority, women, and LGBTQ-owned businesses.
MGT is a national technology and advisory solutions leader serving state and local governments, education (SLED), and targeted commercial clients, with over 230 legally defensible disparity studies across the country. For more information, visit https://www.mgt.us/
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