Improving the Effectiveness and Quality of Supportive Services for the Iowa Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) distributes federal funds to finance transportation projects. State DOTs establish Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) program to ensure nondiscrimination and fair competitions for federally funded transportation projects. DBEs are historically under-represented groups (e.g., women, minorities) who are socially and economically disadvantaged. DBEs often experience difficulties in technical knowledge and support, financial assistance, marketing, and networking. DBE programs provide supportive services such as DBE orientations, workshops, one-on-one consulting, marketing support, and mentor and protégé(e) programs. Much research has been done on DOT DBE programs and theri supportive services. However, limited research focus on improving the effectiveness and quality of the supportive services in the DOT DBE program. This paper examines the currently offered supportive services in several states and identifies the most beneficial supportive services to DBE firms. Qualitative data were collected from semi-structured interviews and DBE essential workshops at Iowa State University. The results of qualitative data analysis yield the most recommended supportive services for the Iowa DBE programs.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFH80 Standing Committee on Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.
• Authors:
  • Shane, Jennifer
  • Katoski, Angela
  • Dang, Hongtao
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barriers to entry (Competition); Disadvantaged business enterprises; Minority business enterprises; State aid; Women owned business enterprises
• Identifier Terms: Iowa Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Construction; Economics; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01658577
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-03272
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 31 2018 10:47AM