Office of Community and Economic Development
OCED Awarded Caltrans Grant for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
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yes | OCED, via its Fresno State Small Business University program, will help complete a comprehensive needs assessment for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms to prepare them to acquire Caltrans contracts. |
OCED has been awarded a Caltrans Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Supportive Services (DBE/SS) program grant in the amount of $422,000. The purpose of the Caltrans grant is to increase the total number of certified DBE firms active in the federal aid highway construction and professional services industries. OCED will provide technical assistance to certified DBE firms and contribute to their growth and eventual self-sufficiency. OCED's DBE/SS Central Region includes programming and services to DBEs and potential DBEs in Caltrans Districts 5, 6, 9 and 10.
- District 5: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz Counties.
- District 6: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera and Tulare Counties.
- District 9: Inyo and Mono Counties.
- District 10: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties.
Caltrans' DBE/SS Program is supported by Federal Highway Administration funding, which requires a Business Development Program component. Via its Fresno State Small Business University Program, OCED will help complete a comprehensive needs assessment for each participating DBE firm to determine the individualized technical assistance and training required to increase its capacity to successfully participate in federally-funded highway construction and professional services contracts. Work will continue through July 2019.