CDOT Hosts Workshop for Emerging Small Businesses

March 4, 2011 - Statewide Transportation Plan - STATEWIDE – March 4th, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will host a workshop to review proposed changes to the Emerging Small Business (ESB) program.

The changes will affect all contractors and consultants who bid on CDOT contracts and desire to utilize the incentives of the ESB program.  The workshop will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the auditorium at CDOT headquarters located at 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue in Denver.

“CDOT initiated the rule changes after a thorough analysis and feedback from the industry demonstrated that the incentives of the program were not increasing the ability of small businesses to compete for CDOT contracts,” said CDOT Small Business Civil Rights Specialist Katherine Williams.  “By increasing opportunities for small businesses, we can aid in the development of Colorado’s small business community, increase competition for CDOT contract awards, and lower the cost to the public for transportation-related work.”

In developing the proposed rules, CDOT looked at other state DOT practices, local small business programs and federal programs.  Most notably, the new rules would eliminate graduation based upon years in the program, increase the size limits of participating small businesses, and create a more flexible program allowing for tailored project incentives.

The draft rules are available for review on the CDOT website at http://www.coloradodot.info/business/equal-opportunity/emerging-small-business-program. If you are unable to attend the meeting please e-mail your questions and comments to Katherine Williams at [email protected].

“This is the first step in the process and our goal right now is to get feedback from the industry,” added Williams.  “Any comments that we receive now will help us move forward in finalizing any potential rule changes.”

CDOT’s ESB program provides assistance and increases opportunities for certain small businesses, including minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises. The assistance and opportunities provided by the ESB program enable small businesses to gain the knowledge, experience and resources needed to participate in the competitive process for CDOT contracts.