Contractor News

Baton Rouge May Create $400k MBE Task Force

East Baton Rouge Parish is expected to create a new division to oversee the handing out of more contracts to minority businesses.

November 29, 2021

Department of Commerce Launches Minority Business Development Agency

The U.S. Department of Commerce has launched the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which will likely be expanded further through the Minority Business Development Act of 2021.

November 29, 2021

DBEs Not Included in $66b Railroad Infrastructure Plan

Without public oversight large prime contractors regularly fail to subcontract or buy supply from small underrepresented firms.

November 25, 2021

DOT Infrastructure Spending State-by-State

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released state-by-state fact sheets highlighting how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will have an impact across the country.

November 24, 2021

Vet Biz Bill Introduced in House Would Up Federal Procurement Goal

Representatives Trey Holliingsworth and Frank Mrvan re-introduced the Investing in Veteran Entrepreneurial Talents (VETs) Act.

November 17, 2021

Baltimore Mayor Invests $55m in Job Training, Small Biz Recovery & More
Illinois Metra Board Approves $13m Station Renovation
Diverse Rail Contractors Charge Racism in Contracting Practices
Wisconsin Veteran Business Owners Seek Action
West Virginia DOT Opens Bidding for 20 Projects
Army Corp to Begin $4b in Construction Work at Ports to Quick-Fix Supply Chain
Widespread Praise as Congress Passes Infrastructure Bill
Thirty DBE Firms Partnering with Los Angeles SkyRail
Maine Voters Back $100m Infrastructure Bond
Voters in Crook County Oregon Approve $35m Bond for New Justice Center
Construction Spending Dropped in September
Texas Governor Approves $3.3b for Higher Ed Construction
Major Cities Creating LGBT Business Certifications
DBEs Need Post-Ida Support, Urges Congressman
West Virginia Awards $10m Contract to Rebuild Portion of MacCorkle Ave
House Small Business Committee Holds Hearing on Supply Chain Crisis
US Trails Egypt on High Speed Rail Despite 57X Bigger GDP
Republicans Slam Biden’s ‘Out of Touch’ & ‘Incompetent’ SBA
Construction Starts on $64.4m Bronx River Parkway Bridge Replacement
Maryland Gov. Announces Groundbreaking on $150m Penn Station Redevelopment
DBEs Set to Win $80m from Phase 1 of North Carolina's 540 Project
PNC Grants $16.8m to Howard U. for Black Business Development
New Jersey Transit Approves $1.56b Bridge Contract
Florida Grants Winter Haven $9.4m for Industrial Park Roads
San Diego Airport to Spend $2.6b on Terminal Replacement
“Biden Didn’t Keep His Word”: New Border Wall Construction Underway
Albuquerque Gets $1.8m for Minority Business Development Center
Oklahoma DOT Approves 8-Year, $7.7b Construction Plan
Need to Procure a Small Business? There’s an App for That
Washington State to Virtual Hold Open House for Highway Contractors
High DBE Rates in Illinois Tollway’s $103m Contracts
$30m Contract Awarded for BART Expansion Environmental Services
NYC Mayor Announces Plan for $191m Offshore Wind Project
PennEast Pipeline Canceled Due To Regulatory Roadblocks
USDOT Loans Louisiana $36.4m for Two Infrastructure Projects
FTA Grants Nearly $100m for Red Line Extension Near Portland Oregon
South Carolina Begins Interchange Work in $830m Highway Revamp
Infrastructure Investments Will Boost GDP and Employment Across Sectors
Alaska Airports Get $42 Million Injection
Construction Starts Declined in August
Small Businesses Struggle as SBA Celebrates Them With Celebs
Boston Mayor Launches New Tools to Aid Supplier Diversity
The SBA is Revamping its EIDL Program
Oregon’s Port of Coos Bay to get New $1b Container Facility, Rail Upgrades
St. Louis’ Broadway Tower to Finish $18m Renovation in November
What’s the point of Amtrak?
Contract for DC’s Black Lives Matter Plaza Awarded to White-Owned Firm
Funding Allocated for Phase 2 of $415m PA Courthouse Project
One Month After Ground Broke on Levee Project, Ida Shows Its Urgency
Duplexes May Get Greenlight in California Suburbs

Baltimore Mayor Invests $55m in Job Training, Small Biz Recovery & More

Illinois Metra Board Approves $13m Station Renovation

Diverse Rail Contractors Charge Racism in Contracting Practices

Wisconsin Veteran Business Owners Seek Action

West Virginia DOT Opens Bidding for 20 Projects

Army Corp to Begin $4b in Construction Work at Ports to Quick-Fix Supply Chain

Widespread Praise as Congress Passes Infrastructure Bill

Thirty DBE Firms Partnering with Los Angeles SkyRail

Maine Voters Back $100m Infrastructure Bond

Voters in Crook County Oregon Approve $35m Bond for New Justice Center

Construction Spending Dropped in September

Texas Governor Approves $3.3b for Higher Ed Construction

Major Cities Creating LGBT Business Certifications

DBEs Need Post-Ida Support, Urges Congressman

West Virginia Awards $10m Contract to Rebuild Portion of MacCorkle Ave

House Small Business Committee Holds Hearing on Supply Chain Crisis

US Trails Egypt on High Speed Rail Despite 57X Bigger GDP

Republicans Slam Biden’s ‘Out of Touch’ & ‘Incompetent’ SBA

Construction Starts on $64.4m Bronx River Parkway Bridge Replacement

Maryland Gov. Announces Groundbreaking on $150m Penn Station Redevelopment

DBEs Set to Win $80m from Phase 1 of North Carolina's 540 Project

PNC Grants $16.8m to Howard U. for Black Business Development

New Jersey Transit Approves $1.56b Bridge Contract

Florida Grants Winter Haven $9.4m for Industrial Park Roads

Governor Ron DeSantis, FDOT, Winter Haven, Intermodal Logistics Center

San Diego Airport to Spend $2.6b on Terminal Replacement

“Biden Didn’t Keep His Word”: New Border Wall Construction Underway

Albuquerque Gets $1.8m for Minority Business Development Center

Oklahoma DOT Approves 8-Year, $7.7b Construction Plan

Need to Procure a Small Business? There’s an App for That

Washington State to Virtual Hold Open House for Highway Contractors

High DBE Rates in Illinois Tollway’s $103m Contracts

$30m Contract Awarded for BART Expansion Environmental Services

NYC Mayor Announces Plan for $191m Offshore Wind Project

PennEast Pipeline Canceled Due To Regulatory Roadblocks

USDOT Loans Louisiana $36.4m for Two Infrastructure Projects

FTA Grants Nearly $100m for Red Line Extension Near Portland Oregon

South Carolina Begins Interchange Work in $830m Highway Revamp

Infrastructure Investments Will Boost GDP and Employment Across Sectors

Alaska Airports Get $42 Million Injection

Construction Starts Declined in August

Small Businesses Struggle as SBA Celebrates Them With Celebs

Boston Mayor Launches New Tools to Aid Supplier Diversity

The SBA is Revamping its EIDL Program

Oregon’s Port of Coos Bay to get New $1b Container Facility, Rail Upgrades

St. Louis’ Broadway Tower to Finish $18m Renovation in November

What’s the point of Amtrak?

Contract for DC’s Black Lives Matter Plaza Awarded to White-Owned Firm

Funding Allocated for Phase 2 of $415m PA Courthouse Project

One Month After Ground Broke on Levee Project, Ida Shows Its Urgency

Duplexes May Get Greenlight in California Suburbs

SDVOSBs Get Contract Set-Asides with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command	DC
Gainesville Launches M/WBE, Small Biz, and Vet Biz Disparity Study	FL
M/WBE Disparity Study to be launched by Harford County	MD
NYC Releases “Making the Grade” Findings on M/WBE Utilization	NY
North Carolina’s DOT Expands DBE Outreach Efforts	NC
SDB Participation Promoted by 2 New Pennsylvania Bills	PA
8(a) Firms No Longer Required by SBA to have a Bona Fide Place of Business	DC
New LGBTQ+ Cert Opens Opportunities for Los Angeles County Contracts	CA
Chicago extends M/WBE set-aside program through 2027	IL
King County upgrades M/WBE Small Contractor and Supplier Program	WA
Black business leaders call for changes to Oakland’s SLBE/LBE program	CA
City of Frederick expands M/WBE goals	MD
NY and NJ Port Authority to increase M/WBE participation	NY
City of Turlock Sets out 2021-2023 DBE & ACDBE Goals	CA
Wilmington Launches M/WBE Disparity Study	DE
Erie County Examining M/WBE Participation	NY
Port Houston Launches M/WBE Program	TX
Minnesota DOT seeks to update its DBE and ACDBE program	MN
Can San Diego's SLBE/ELBE Program Encourage More Minority and Women Contractors?	CA
To Ensure Purchasing and Contracting Equity, Seattle Launches M/WBE Advisory Committee and Disparity Study	WA
Alameda County Officials Undertaking Disparity Study; Possible Improvements to its ELB/SLB program	CA
King County Moves To Increase M/WBE Partners	WA
HUBZone Small Biz Program is Expanding in Illinois	IL
Chicago Mayor Initiates Extension of City’s M/WBE Program	IL
Columbus Seeking to Expand City Contracts with M/WBEs	OH
City of Arlington Implements a Minority and Women-Owned Enterprise Policy	TX
Disparity Study Looks at Lack of M/WBE Firms in State Contracting	CT
North Carolina's DOT is Encouraging DBE Firms to Compete for State Contracts	NC
LGBTQBE Legislation Moves Forward in Baltimore	MD
Boston Allocates Funding to Help M/WBE & Veteran Firms to Compete for Gov't Contracts	MA
Chicago City Treasurer Promotes Diversity Scoreboard for MBE Inclusion	IL
LA Metro Accepts Public Comment on DBE Goals for Fiscal Years 2022-2024	CA
North Hempstead Adopts Procurement Preference for SDVOBs	NY
City of Birmingham Looking for M/WBE Disparity Study Feedback	AL
Baltimore City Considers New M/WBE Bills	MD
New Sacramento Bill Promotes Statewide SBE Utilization Quota	CA
Black-Owned Businesses Awarded Less than 1% of North Carolina's $9.9B Public Works Contracts	NC
Federal Railroad Agency to Conduct First Nationwide M/WBE Disparity Study	DC
New Participation Goals for Illinois’s BEP-Certified Businesses	IL
DBE Mentor-Protege Program Launches in Santa Clara	CA
City of Boston Completes M/WBE Disparity Study	MA
Oakland to Strengthen its LBE/SLBE Programs	CA
New Orleans Seeks to Ensure 35% of City Contracts go to DBEs	LA
NYC Will Include LGBT-Owned Businesses in City Procurement	NY
FAA Seeking Stakeholder Feedback on ACDBE Program	DC
Virginia bill will aid MBE/WBE/SBE businesses	VA
Data released on Birmingham’s M/WBE program, more plans in the works	AL
8(a) “Section 8” Firms Get a Boost, Able to Qualify Through Past Performance in Joint Ventures	DC
Maximum Award Price Raised for WOSBs and HUBZone Businesses	DC
The SBA is Overhauling its WOSB Program	DC

SDVOSBs Get Contract Set-Asides with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Gainesville Launches M/WBE, Small Biz, and Vet Biz Disparity Study

M/WBE Disparity Study to be launched by Harford County

NYC Releases “Making the Grade” Findings on M/WBE Utilization

North Carolina’s DOT Expands DBE Outreach Efforts

SDB Participation Promoted by 2 New Pennsylvania Bills

8(a) Firms No Longer Required by SBA to have a Bona Fide Place of Business

New LGBTQ+ Cert Opens Opportunities for Los Angeles County Contracts

Chicago extends M/WBE set-aside program through 2027

King County upgrades M/WBE Small Contractor and Supplier Program

Black business leaders call for changes to Oakland’s SLBE/LBE program

City of Frederick expands M/WBE goals