Project Team

The project team for the 2025 City of Little Rock Disparity Study includes four firms that possess expertise directly relevant to conducting the disparity study in a manner that meets the highest industry and legal standards.

BBC Research & Consulting (BBC)

BBC, which will serve as the prime consultant for the study, is a 54-year-old economic and diversity research firm based in Denver, Colorado. The firm has completed more than 150 disparity studies for states, cities, transportation agencies, and other government organizations across the country, including for the City of Indianapolis and the City of Virginia Beach. BBC is also considered a national expert in helping organizations develop and refine their implementations of small and diverse business programs. The firm has provided expert testimony related to disparity studies and diverse business programs on several different occasions, most recently as part of the successful defense of the California Department of Transportation’s implementation of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. For more information about BBC, please visit www.bbcresearch.com.

Sankofa Community Strategists 

Sankofa is a Little Rock-based supportive services firm that uses history- and healing-centered engagement to disrupt structural inequality in Arkansas. The firm does so by centering the narratives and experiences of individuals and communities who have been historically disenfranchised and uses that knowledge to build sustainable solutions alongside those affected. Through educational programs, community conversations, and issue-based summits, Sankofa activates communities to become agents of change and intergenerational progress. For the 2025 City of Little Rock Disparity Study, Sankofa will help BBC execute our community engagement plan by coordinating public meetings and business organization meetings. The firm will also conduct in-depth interviews with local business owners to collect personal insights and perceptions about conditions in the local marketplace.

 Davis Research 

 Since its inception in 1970, Davis Research has grown to be one of the leading survey   data collection firms in the nation. The firm consistently delivers sophisticated telephone   and web-based surveys with seamless programming, supremely qualified surveyors, and   a customized look and feel. In addition, it offers professional computer-aided telephone   interviewing services from its industry-best call centers. For the 2025 City of Little Rock Disparity Study, Davis Research will be responsible for programming and fielding surveys with businesses in the local marketplace in connection with the availability and utilization analyses.

  Holland & Knight

  Holland & Knight is a multi‐national law firm and has participated in more than 70 disparity studies with BBC. BBC partners with Holland & Knight to develop the legal analysis and framework on disparity studies and to consult on legal issues. Holland & Knight also has extensive experience conducting in‐depth interviews, collecting, and analyzing anecdotal evidence, and assessing potential disadvantaged business program measures. Holland & Knight will develop the legal framework for the 2025 City of Little Rock Disparity Study.