WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has 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:
State
Recipient Organization
Amount Awarded
Alabama
Alabama Department of Transportation
$373,950
Alabama
Alabama Department of Transportation
$384,312
Alaska
Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
$185,381
Arizona
Arizona Department of Transportation
$750,000
Arkansas
Arkansas State Highway Transportation Department
$194,864
California
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