Remarks for Secretary Tippett
Brief Remarks, Transportation Conference
Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Noon
McKimmon Center, Raleigh
Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me here today.
First, I would like to thank you, Queen Crittendon, Shelton Russell and the rest of our Office of Civil Rights and Business Development staff for organizing this fine event.
I'd also like to thank John Brantley and the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, as well as David King and the Triangle Transit Authority, for their assistance in making this year's conference a success.
As you know, this is the second annual Transportation Conference for disadvantaged business enterprises. I can see by today's turnout that this year's event will be even more successful than last year.
Your presence here today reaffirms that the N.C. Department of Transportation is working to create more opportunities for employees and business partners, one of my top priorities.
NCDOT is a state leader in its efforts to serve disadvantaged business enterprises.
I am pleased to say that we now have three Business Assistance Centers in operation, with another proposed for Greensboro. These facilities offer a variety of services such as financial counseling, lending services and marketing assistance to firms like yours.
The Federal Highway Administration is now using the department's Business Assistance Centers as a national model for the delivery of business development services to the DBE community.
Earlier this year, we instituted the DBE Utilization Tracking Program to track the contract awards and payments to minority- and women-owned certified firms, which allows us to monitor the participation and create new opportunities for these companies.
Also, in July, we released an enhanced directory of firms certified through the department's Unified Certification Program. This comprehensive database increases opportunities for contractors and meets the needs of customers by giving them an accurate, easy-to-use and searchable data source to help them locate certified DBEs.
NCDOT has been working through the General Assembly to ensure the future success of our minority- and women-owned business efforts. In August 2006, the legislature passed House Bill 1827, which provides for continuity of our minority- and women-owned program.
Research from other states shows a significant decrease in participation by those firms once such programs end.
The legislation also requires the department to conduct a disparity study every five years to assess the availability and utilization of MW/WB firms, establish a goal for statewide participation and continue to set project-specific goals to ensure MW/WB firms have an equal opportunity to participate in contract opportunities.
The programs I have just mentioned are a snapshot of the services that our agency provides to minority- and women-owned firms.
We are committed to supplier diversity in every aspect of the department's work, not just in construction but also in areas ranging from information technology to environmental stewardship.
We could not be where we are today without the hard work and dedication of our business partners and our business development staff. I want to thank each of our partners for working with us to increase opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses.
As you have seen already today, there are many ways to get involved with NCDOT contracting work. During the business expo this afternoon, you will be able to learn about additional opportunities as well as speak with agency staff about issues specific to your firm.
My hope is that you will take what you have learned here today and partner with us to achieve the department's mission of providing a safe, modern and integrated transportation system that expands opportunities across the state in support of Governor Easley's vision for One North Carolina.
I wish you much success and hope to see you working for NCDOT soon. Thank you for taking time out of your schedules to be here today.