Women, minority businesses are celebrated as they say farewell to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program

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Women, minority businesses are celebrated as they say farewell to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program

MnDOT and partners honored eight formerly certified DBEs who became independent of the program. Here's a snippet from our news release:

The Minnesota Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Metropolitan Airport Commission, Metropolitan Council and the city of Minneapolis, last week honored eight formerly certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for achieving economic and operational success to become independent of the program. 

The following businesses were recognized:

  • Anton Group, LLC.
  • Climate Maker, Inc.
  • Growth Development Marketing, Inc.  
  • Precision Task Force  
  • Simplex Construction Supplies, Inc.
  • Snow Kreilich Architects
  • Sunrise Painting and Wallcovering
  • WECsys LLC.

“We congratulate the DBEs that are moving on from the program. It is a demonstration of their success and hard work. It also shows that the DBE program is effective at assisting businesses develop and increase their capabilities,” said Kim Collins, director of MnDOT’s Office of Civil Rights.

The DBE Program was established in 1983 by the federal government to ensure women- and minority-owned businesses have the opportunity to participate in contracts financed in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program is intended to remedy past and current discrimination against disadvantaged business enterprises, ensure a level playing field, and foster equal opportunity to assisted contracts.

The MnDOT Office of Civil Rights administers the DBE program and sets goals for participation on applicable contracts.

One of the companies, Simplex Construction Supplies, Inc., previously a MnDOT-certified DBE firm, recently merged with JC Supply and Manufacturing to provide infrastructure products for highways and bridges.

“It is with great pleasure that Ms. Connie Lightcap and I, serving as the sole shareholder of our respective companies JC and Simplex, extend our sincere appreciation to MnDOT’s Office of Civil Rights for working with us and supporting our efforts to build two industry-leading companies,” said Sarah Bazey, president of Simplex Supplies.

      For more information

      Visit: mndot.gov/civilrights