Office of Civil Rights News
Free classes in job-site safety, financials, bidding and estimating, contract law, marketing, sustaining growth, and more! Develop skills, improve your visibility, and compete more effectively on MnDOT work.
Effective marketing strategy, including designing a website
Learn the nuts and bolts for using social media to drive customers to your website and business. With examples, templates and guidance, take the preliminary steps to build an effective website.
Successfully responding to a request for proposal
This course is for Professional/Technical firms. Requests for Proposal, or RFPs, are posted by public agencies looking for contractors to get work done. Learn how to find these RFPs and how to read them. Understand what exactly is being requested and how to respond. Discuss what it looks like to partner with other companies or contractors on larger projects. Leave class with a draft template to use for future proposals.
OSHA 30 certification for construction
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other safety regulations impact your worker responsibilities, day-to-day operations, and business development.
DBE Business Academy: 206 Cash flow and workflow forecast
Examine cash flow forecasting and develop required tools to understand workflows and critical paths. This class will cover various business situations and emphasis will be placed on understanding the need to assess both human and asset capital capabilities.
Certified payroll seminar
State-funded and federally funded projects often require certified payroll. Learn where to look in the Special Provisions, how to understand the requirements, and what this means to your bottom line.
DBE Business Academy: 202 Preparing the tools
In this intermediate-level class, learn from MnDOT experts as they discuss useful tools and valuable lessons. Topics include alternative MnDOT contracting methods, small business contracting opportunities, prevailing wage, bid opportunities and how to do business with MnDOT.
First Aid-CPR-AED certification training
Learn first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including how to use an automated external defibrillator. Our instructor is certified by the American Heart Association and will emphasize topics relevant to hazards on highway construction sites.
Effective business communication
Learn how to write clear and concise memos, emails, letters, texts, reports and diary entries. Templates and guidelines will be provided. We will also discuss the use of Chat GPT and how to use it effectively and appropriately in today’s business world.
DBE Business Academy: 302 A successful submittal
Gain an understanding of the components of a successful bid and review the submittal process. This advanced-level class includes presentations from prime contractors. Learn from their experience and what they look for from their subcontractors.
Landscaping: Job costing and bidding/estimating seminar
This seminar is for companies in landscaping and tree cutting. Understand basic accounting concepts and budgeting for insurance, bonds, labor, equipment, material, subcontractors, and overhead. Learn how to find bidding opportunities, review advertisements, thrive in the low bid environment, and submit quotes. Bring in plans and specs you are working on and consultants will walk you through the entire process.
Looking ahead to April
Managing your business through a crisis
Business owners must know how to manage any number of crises. Learn what to consider and what tools to use when your business is faced with problems relating to cash flow or credit needs, accidents and insurance, employee problems, and public and client relationship problems. Also learn about resources for cyber security and technology challenges.
DBE Business Academy: 307 Construction law and contracts
This advanced-level class provides different legal components of a MnDOT contract, specifications, performance bonds and MnDOT forms.
DBE Business Academy: 303 Sustainability
Prepare operational action plans. Discuss the need for implementing strategies to achieve action plan goals, how to navigate the ups and downs of owning a business, and the transitional phase from the DBE program. This is an advanced-level class.
More ways MnDOT helps certified small businesses:
One-on-one business assistance
Get free tailored support to meet the challenges of your certified small business. Meet with a consultant one-on-one. Attend small group seminars and work sessions led by business experts. To request one-on-one business assistance, contact Stacia Rice at IMO Consulting Group.
Micro Grants
Receive up to $3,500 of financial assistance to increase your business capacity and eligibility to work on MnDOT contracts. Funding is provided through reimbursement of preapproved expenses. Available through April 30, 2024 or until funding is exhausted. Learn more at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/civilrights/micro-grant.html
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