NJDOT DBE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM – 3rd GRADUATING CLASS
(Trenton) - Building on the success of the previous two years, the 2019 NJDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Supportive Services Program (SSP), the Bridge to Success, received enthusiastic responses from over 60 program applicants. 24 applicants, comprising of firms providing construction, trucking/hauling services and material supplies, were accepted into the program. As part of the overall NJDOT mission “commitment to communities”, we continued outreach through the summer to generate more awareness and interest in the SSP and to encourage more small and minority owned businesses to work with NJDOT.
NJDOT is committed to increasing diversity and participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) on federally funded highway, street, and bridge construction NJDOT projects. The goal of the SSP, the Bridge to Success, is to level the playing field for firms interested, willing and able to work on NJDOT projects.
Enrollment remained open for a greater part of the year, resulting in a number of new firms including DBEs providing professional services (engineering & technology), and other minority- and women-owned businesses joining the program. The DBE Supportive Services Program is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and hosted by NJDOT’s Division of Civil Rights and Affirmative Action’s Disadvantaged and Small Business Programs Unit. Managed by r6catalyst, a MWDBE-certified NJ-based management consulting firm, the program is comprised of certain key elements including detailed business needs assessments, classroom training, individualized planning, and one-on-one technical assistance.
Training classes commenced in February and continued each week until the end of October, with a summer break from June to August. Classroom training was divided into Spring and Fall session. Overall, a total of 21 classroom sessions were conducted, with the spring session covering a variety of topics including business strategy, leadership, marketing, organizational development, HR and project management; and classes in the fall being primarily devoted to financial management and business operations. Throughout the year, many participants received one-on-one technical assistance, coaching and guidance by our subject-matter experts.
Seven (7) DBE firms completed the various class assignments and successfully graduated the program. These included: J C Contracting Inc, Cruz Concrete, Excelsior Engineering, MC's Welding & Fabrication, Pinnacle Power, Uriel Trucking, and WR Burnett. Ten (10) other participants, due to late enrollment, were recognized for their interest, attendance, and participation and were considered “partial” graduates.
The DBE Supportive Services Program also provided multiple opportunities for the participants to engage in networking with prime contractors and consultants, program alumni, and meet NJDOT staff from Procurement, Construction and Compliance. These networking forums and the interaction during training sessions resulted in participants building contractual and business relationships with one another as well as with larger prime contractors.
NJDOT congratulates the success and commitment of the 2019 graduates and program participants!
The application period for 2020 SSP SSP will open in Spring 2020. For more information, email us at njdotssp@r6catalyst.com or DOT.DBE_ESBEPrograms@dot.nj.gov |
