Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department

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We enforce the law to make sure opportunity is always fair.

The Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity (CRIO) Department, formerly known as the Human Rights Department, was created by the 1974 City Charter to replace the Commission on Community Relations, and is the oldest municipal civil rights agency in the country. The Department's roles include administering the Language Access Program, Skilled Trades Employment Program, the Detroit Business Opportunity Program, and the Construction Workforce Diversity Program.

Among managing the mentioned programs, the Department is also tasked with investigating complaints of workplace violence, sexual harassment, and discrimination of the protected classes. The Detroit City Code Chapter 27 charges the CRIO Department with the authority and duty to investigate incidents of unlawful discrimination and harassment that occur within the City.

The Department likewise is responsible for enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Through their funding, CRIO works to create opportunities for the community by ensuring Detroit residents are represented on projects that have received funding regulated by the City of Detroit. Its responsibilities continue to expand as new opportunities to achieve its mission are developed and implemented, and as the department is charged with new responsibilities.

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Claimant Questionnaire Form

Chapter 27

Skilled Trades Employment

CRIO Skilled Trades Employment Program

CRIO Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I submit an ADA accommodation request?

Citizens seeking reasonable accommodations through the ADA should submit their request through the link: http://bit.ly/ADAReq.

How do I request language assistance, such as interpretation and translation services?

Language services can be requested by filling out the request form available through the link: http://bit.ly/LangServices.

What is the Certified Business Register?

The Certified Business Register (CBR) was first introduced in 1995, as a one-page listing of only eight businesses that were certified in two categories. Today, it displays over 600 businesses listed in five distinct certification categories. It is published in two versions, a recently updated easy to use bound hardcopy and an online version. The hardcopy is distributed to city departments, major developers, contractors, other public, private and non-profit organizations. It is noteworthy that city departments must comply with Executive Order (EO) 2003-4, which can be read on this website. The register is the primary source for meeting the obligation of this EO. The online version is updated at least monthly and contains the identical format as the hardcopy.

We believe that the development of business to-business partnerships will be key to the City's future success. The CBR is a resource tool for city departments, major developers, contractors, other public, private and non-profit organizations. The support of local businesses generates tax revenue, provides opportunities for business expansion and increases employment opportunities for Detroit residents. It is our goal that the Register becomes an essential resource tool for procurement in the public and private sectors. We encourage businesses to become certified and to purchase from other certified businesses.

How does using the Certified Business Register benefit local businesses?

Enhances the profile of a business among its peers on a regional and national level
Simplifies finding and accessibility to other certified businesses
Helps to increase the tax base, increases City services; thus benefiting local businesses
Creates a stronger economic community that serves as an insulator against economic downturns
Demonstrates a tangible commitment to the City of Detroit

How is the Detroit Certified Business Register structured?

The Register is organized alphabetically by business type. Each business entry includes the company's address, phone number, contact person and certification categories. We also list and clarify the type of goods and services that each company provides. These descriptions are based on the National Institute of Government Purchasing, Inc. (NIGP) commodity/service codes.

Companies that offer similar products/services are for the most part grouped together under a specifically defined business section. However, some may also provide products/services in more than one category. Please note that the "Other" section gives a boarder variety of products/services and companies than can be found elsewhere in the Register.

The City of Detroit Human Rights Department/Commission is pleased to present our latest online Certified Business Register, which is located at the bottom panel of this page.

Special Note:

The certification status of each certified business is current relative to the date of printing.
Businesses listed in the Register have made application and been subject to review in determining their eligibility in meeting criteria of the DHB/DBB/DSB/MBE and or WBE certification(s) as outlined in the department’s Administrative Guidelines.
The Human Rights Department does not guarantee the quality or reliability of the products or services of the businesses listed.

Detroit Business Certification Register

What is the tax abatement program?

The City of Detroit- Planning and Development Department administers the following tax incentive programs:

Public Act 146 of 2000 the Obsolete Rehabilitation Act, which
provides for reduced property taxes for up to 12 years on
improvements to existing rental residential units and/or commercial
structures , or structures being converted to rental residential and/or
commercial space.

Public Act 198 of 1974 is designed to provide a stimulus in the form
of significant tax incentives to industries that renovate and expand aging
plants, build new plants and promote establishment of research and
development laboratories.

The City of Detroit Human Rights Department monitors developers and contractors to promote local (Detroit Based) business utilization and resident workforce diversity. Please refer to our contracting and employment opportunities section for opportunities under Public Act 146 of 2000.

For opportunities subject to Public Act 198 of 1974 contact the Office of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity. For information about applying for a tax abatement or upcoming projects feel free to contact the Planning and Development Department.

Planning and Development Department

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Avenue - Suite 808 Detroit, MI 48226

(313) 224-1339

Fax: (313) 224-1310

Monday - Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity

Ruth Ellis Center, 77 Victor St., Highland Park, MI 48203

(313) 252-1950

Monday - Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

How do I apply for the Human Rights Affirmative Action Clearance?

The Human Rights Department provides Affirmative Action Clearances as a service to City Departments and to fulfill City Council contract approval requirements. The Department reviews the equal employment practices of all contractors, vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers doing business and/or proposing to do business with the City of Detroit.

Pursuant to Section 27-3-2 of the Detroit City Code, all contractors, prospective or otherwise, doing business with the city, shall take affirmative action to achieve reasonable representation of minority groups and women, on their workforce. Such affirmative action shall include but not be limited to the following; employment, promotion, demotion or transfer, recruiting or recruitment, advertising, layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training or education, including apprenticeships.
Once a City Department/Agency or vendor requests an Affirmative Action Clearance, vendors will be expected to submit the following:

A copy of the company’s Equal Employment Opportunity Policy as officially adopted. This may be a statement on company letterhead and signed by an official, indicating that the company does not discriminate in its employment practices and takes affirmative action to recruit and hire minority persons and women.
A completed Contract Compliance Report (EEO-1) listing current employees by sex and race, and establishing minority and female hiring goals for all occupational categories of employment utilized by the company.
A completed EEO-2 form, listing current employees, hires, promotions, and terminations during the past year; or employment activity since the last Contract Compliance/Affirmative Action evaluation.
A statement on company letterhead that no subcontractors will start work on the project, until they are cleared by the Human Rights Department.
The name, address, telephone number, dollar amount, and approximate work start date of all subcontractors on the project should be furnished to the Human Rights Department as soon as they are identified.

Clearances are valid for a minimum of six months to a maximum of 24 months.

Clearance renewals must be requested by the City Department/Agency or vendor one month prior to the expiration date.

What is the Construction Workforce Diversity Program?

The goal of the Construction Workforce Diversity Program is to promote employment of Detroit residents on publicly funded construction projects. It encourages developers and contractors to utilize local residents as both apprentices and journeymen. It further calls upon them to demonstrate good faith efforts by working with organized labor unions and contractor organizations to facilitate a minimum 50% Detroit resident worker hours on each project. Where possible, this percentage is to be applied on a craft-by-craft basis. Each construction contractor and subcontractor shall meet this percentage or provide substantial good faith efforts. Detroit residents and businesses may review the following list of construction projects and contact persons for potential opportunities.

Gateway Infrastructure Projects