Griffin & Strong, P.C.

05/28/2026

We welcome you to read the inaugural edition of Griffin & Strong’s Compliance Compass Newsletter. Our goal with this newsletter is simple: to provide timely and relevant updates that help you navigate the evolving landscape of contract compliance.

Read It Here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Inaugural-Griffin---Strong-Newsletter.html?soid=1126089615116&aid=1w_XmWB_KEw

Email from Griffin & Strong, PC Exclusive Compliance Tips and Updates Issue No. 1 — May 2026   Welcome! This is the inaugural edition of Griffin & Strong’s Compliance Compass Newsletter. Our goal wit

05/25/2026

“In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.” — Barack Obama

Our offices will be closed today in honor of our fallen heroes - those who gave all in defence of our freedoms.

05/19/2026

At Griffin & Strong, we're driven not just by policy, but by people. To illustrate this, we're sharing our time - and our actions - in the community in a new blog series we call "Boots on the Ground." Discover more about our work and our team, and see our mission come to life.

Find the first of this series at

Griffin & Strong collaborated with Columbus Urban League in hosting a Standards and Success Summit in Columbus, OH designed to educate, connect, and empower the local business community through providing expert insights, compliance, training, access to resources, and networking opportunities

05/15/2026

US DOT is Trying to 'E-Race' What Cannot Be Erased with The 'Interim Final Rule'

What does this mean for the future of supplier diversity, and how will it impact your business or agency? Read US DOT Is Trying To ‘E-Race’ What Cannot Be Erased With The ‘Interim Final Rule,’ our breakdown of the new Interim Final Rule on Black Enterprise written by Project Manager, Hanna Rowell, and Associate, Morgan Wilson Esq. This feature explores the legal and practical implications of this major policy shift: blackenterprise.com/usdot-interim-final-rule-disadvantaged-business-enterprise/

USDOT is attempting to redefine what a DBE/ACDBE can be by conflating the indefensibility of the presumption of race or s*x as disadvantage with using race or s*x as evidence of disadvantage in your personal narrative.

05/10/2026

A secure future starts with a strong foundation.

Today, we celebrate the women who build, protect, and guide the next generation. Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to our community and to the remarkable women who lead it.

04/23/2026

We need to talk about DBE.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise is a federal certification, primarily managed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), and it is designed to ensure non-discrimination in federally assisted contracts.

However, there have been changes. Here is a breakdown of what DBE compliance entails for minority businesses today, especially in light of recent regulatory changes:
The October 3, 2025 USDOT Overhaul -- If you operate a minority- or woman-owned business, or manage a project with DBE goals, the most critical things to understand are the changes created by the Interim Final Rule (IFR) issued by the USDOT in October 2025. Following determinations by the USDOT and the Department of Justice, the statutory race- and s*x-based presumptions of disadvantage were removed.

What does this mean for minority businesses?
• No Automatic Presumption: Previously, women and individuals from certain minority groups (e.g., Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian-Pacific) were presumed to be disadvantaged. That is no longer the case.
• Race-Neutral Standards: DBE certification is now entirely race- and gender-neutral.
• Mandatory Recertification: All previously certified DBEs and Airport Concession DBEs (ACDBEs) must undergo a reevaluation process to maintain their status. Re-certification applications must explain specific instances of disadvantage without relying in whole, or in part, on race or gender and be approved on a case-by-case basis by the corresponding certifying agency.

Learn more: gspclaw.com

04/01/2026

We have successfully negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts at the federal, state, and local level for clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small start-ups.

And, our firm has been involved in virtually all federal economic development programs including: Community Development Block Grants, Section 108 Loans, Urban Development Action Grants, Empowerment Zones, Renewal Communities, Historically Underutilized Business Zones, New Market Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and the new Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Talk to us + discover what experience can do for you - gspclaw.com

03/18/2026

"What good does it do a man to have integrated lunch counters if he
can’t buy a hamburger?"

Attorney Rodney K. Strong cites this MLK quote as his professional north star. Economic access is the unfinished business of civil rights. Attorney Strong argues that supplier inclusion is a competitive edge, not just a moral one. "When organizations only buy from the same handful of vendors, complacency creeps in." Opening the process = better pricing; innovation.

On the current legal climate for DEI: "The law hasn’t changed... Governments must show where disparities exist and adopt lawful tools to address them. You can’t do that without data."

The verdict? "The organizations that embrace talent and competition will outperform those that don’t."

Learn more about inclusive policies backed by data: gspclaw.com

03/14/2026

You put in the hard work to secure your Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification, so what happens now with the USDOT’s Interim Final Rule (IFR)?

If you are concerned about how this sudden regulatory change impacts your eligibility, you are not alone. In our recent blog, we break down what the IFR means for your business and what you need to know moving forward. Read the full post here: gspclaw.com/blog/2025/12/3/what-is-the-final-interim-rule

How does the IFR affect Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) eligibility? Whether you are a DBE, or a ACDBE you are directly affected by the USDOT’s new IFR and must take action to recertify your business if you desire to compete on federal contracts as a disadvantaged or minority firm.

03/12/2026

How do we build more inclusive economies?

It takes more than a cookie-cutter approach. At G&S, we tailor every project to the community it serves. Check out our new blog post to learn about our recent Economic Growth and Opportunity Study in Alabama, where we outline actionable policies to close existing gaps and improve the quality of life for all citizens.

Read more: gspclaw.com/blog/2026/2/25/a-sneak-peek-into-griffin-strongs-economic-development-work

One recent example of this is an Economic Growth and Opportunity Study (“Study”) in the State of Alabama (“State”), where G&S’s goal was to examine economic growth across multiple sectors, identify opportunities for citizens and businesses statewide to participate, and provide actionable r...