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Resources Will Help Small Businesses Compete for Federal Highway Contracts

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $11.6 Million in Grants for Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $11.6 million in grants to help disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) compete for federal highway contracts in 30 states and Puerto Rico.

"Giving these small businesses the assistance they need to compete for federal highway contracts creates jobs and ultimately helps taxpayers by reducing project costs," said Secretary LaHood. "Any way you look at them, these grants are a 'win-win' for the American people."

The grants from the Federal Highway Administration's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Supportive Services (DBE/SS) program provide federal aid to DBE firms to improve their ability to compete for and fulfill federal highway contracts.

Since 1982, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has promoted the participation of DBEs in federal-aid highway contracts through state-managed programs. The DBE/SS grants are part of an ongoing federal effort to help state departments of transportation train certified DBE firms on a wide range of business management practices, including procurement assistance and guidance on securing bonding. The goal of the program is to help DBEs successfully compete for federal highway projects.

"Helping DBE firms and their workers enriches the competition for federal highway contracts," said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. "Grants like these will help people find jobs and are an important part of economic recovery."

A DBE is a for-profit, small business owned by minorities, women or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals or, in the case of a corporation, in which 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. The daily business operations must be controlled by at least one of the socially and economically disadvantaged owners. More information about DBE eligibility can be found on the U.S. Department of Transportation's website.

Details of today's awardees are as follows:

The following list goes in this order: State/Recipient Organization/Amount Awarded

Alabama/Alabama Department of Transportation/$373,950
Alabama/Alabama Department of Transportation/$384,312

Alaska/Department of Transportation and Public Facilities/185,381

Arizona/Arizona Department of Transportation/$750,000

Arkansas/State Highway Transportation Department/$194,864

California/Department of Transportation/$1,000,000

Connecticut/Connecticut Department of Transportation/$391,320

Delaware/Delaware Department of Transportation/$262,500

Florida/Florida Department of Transportation/$600,000

Idaho/Idaho Department of Transportation/$97,900

Illinois/Illinois Department of Transportation/$912,600

Indiana/Indiana Department of Transportation/$603,499

Kansas/Kansas Department of Transportation/$175,000

Kentucky/Kentucky Transportation Cabinet/$150,500

Maine/Maine Department of Transportation/$109,000

Maryland/Maryland State Highway Administration/$300,000

Michigan/Michigan Department of Transportation/$475,000

Mississippi/Mississippi Department of Transportation/$485,900

Montana/Montana Department of Transportation/$232,190

New Mexico/New Mexico Department of Transportation/$218,500

North Carolina/North Carolina Department of Transportation/514,900

Ohio/Ohio Department of Transportation/$430,500

Oklahoma/Oklahoma Department of Transportation/$41,166

Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania Department of Transportation/$455,652

Puerto Rico/Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority/$92,500

South Carolina/South Carolina Department of Transportation/$258,383

South Dakota/South Dakota Department of Transportation/$139,033

Tennessee/Tennessee Department of Transportation/$600,000

Texas/Texas Department of Transportation/$500,000

Vermont/Vermont Department of Transportation/$150,000

Washington/Washington Department of Transportation/$309,096

Wyoming/Wyoming Department of Transportation/$160,397

TOTAL: $11,554,493