Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal funds or other federal financial assistance.
- Programs that receive federal funds cannot distinguish among individuals on the basis of race, color or national origin, either directly or indirectly, in the types, quantity, quality or timeliness of program services, aids or benefits that they provide or the manner in which they provide them.
- This prohibition applies to intentional discrimination as well as to procedures, criteria or methods of administration that appear neutral but have a discriminatory effect on individuals because of their race, color, or national origin.
- Policies and practices that have such an effect must be eliminated unless a recipient can show that they were necessary to achieve a legitimate nondiscriminatory objective.
- Persons with limited English proficiency must be afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate in programs that receive federal funds. Policies and practices may not deny or have the effect of denying persons with limited English proficiency equal access to federally-funded programs for which such persons qualify.
The City of Columbia is considered a Local Public Agency (LPA) by the Department of Transportation and must:
- Designate a responsible point of contact to coordinate Title VI efforts;
- Coordinate with City of Columbia departments to ensure compliance;
- Review procedures and policies for any potential discrimination; and
- Collect demographic data on programs and activities (including contractors and subcontractors).
Title VI Important Documents
For more information on the Title VI Program, contact the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities at (803)545-3950 or email us at [email protected].