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Office of Civil Rights News

MnDOT awarded over $80,000 in Micro Grants to Certified Small Businesses

During 2022-23, 30 certified small businesses received Micro Grants to improve their ability to compete for Minnesota Department of Transportation projects and contracts.

“The Micro Grant program helped us develop our Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS). Through the program, I was able to attend several ArcGIS classes. Those classes improved my mapping capabilities and directly increased our team's ability to service MnDOT,” Shelly Binsfeld, president of Rock Leaf Water Environmental, said.

Certified small businesses may apply for up to $3,500 so that they can build their capacity and capability, expand their expertise, and increase their eligibility for MnDOT projects and contracts. Recent grant recipients used these funds for training, software, and website development.  

Businesses that received a Micro Grant are Minnesota-based and work on or are actively pursuing work on MnDOT contracts. They provide a range of expertise including construction, engineering, landscaping, sanitation, consulting, project management and information technology.

Micro Grant expenditures totaled $82,190 in 2022-23. This reflects a 67% increase in the number of Certified Small Businesses who were able to benefit compared with the previous year.  

“From submitting an application to receiving the funds, the program was easy to participate in,” Binsfeld said. “The amount of available funds covered my needs.”

The next application period for Micro Grants opens in mid-September.

More information

We will begin accepting applications for the next round of Micro Grants on Sept. 18.
Learn more about the MnDOT Micro Grant program at
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/civilrights/micro-grant.html

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