The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has announced a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal of 8.82% for projects that receive federal aid on the highway for the period from the 2026 to 2028 fiscal year. The aim is in line with the federal Title 49 regulations that promote fair contracts in small, minority, and women-owned businesses.

ARDOT is now conducting a 30-day public comment period based on a method report that explains how the goal was reached, and this period will end on September 15. Suggestions can be made online, through the mail, or face-to-face. 

The officials state that the DBE goals are not quotas but indicators of participation levels that are derived from the availability and capacity of certified DBEs. The decision is being made during a period when DBE programs are being scrutinized nationwide. Some areas, like Aransas County, Texas, are developing new DBE frameworks linked to federal funding, while others, for example, Illinois, are lobbying for continuous DBE protection.

In such a case, if the 8.82% goal proposed for Arkansas is accepted, it would direct the levels of participation until 2028 and provide the transportation sector in the state with opportunities for the disadvantaged businesses to become involved.