North Carolina's Department of Transportation hosted another round of informational meetings aimed at disadvantaged businesses enterprises (DBEs), which include firms owned by ethnic minorities and/or women. 

Many small businesses may not be familiar with government procurement and government funded construction, as well as letting and state award processes. Firm owners also attend these meetings to learn about how to become prequalified as a subcontractor able to take part in government funded projects.

A NCDOT press release explained the agency is “looking for more companies to perform contract work such as mowing, roadside litter pickup, snow removal, traffic control, road construction and maintenance".

The NCDOT Chief Engineer’s Office and the department’s Office of Civil Rights has begun organizing quarterly outreach events for DBEs. 

To learn more about the disadvantaged business enterprise outreach initiative, visit this NCDOT page here: https://www.ncdot.gov/divisions/highways/Pages/highways-dbe-outreach.aspx