District: Headquarters
Contact: Edward Barrera
Sacramento — Caltrans will host its third annual Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Summit on Oct. 10 in Richmond to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses to secure contracting opportunities and build California’s new generation of transportation infrastructure. The event is free, and those interested can register here.
The summit will provide resources, information and networking opportunities designed to benefit entrepreneurs and representatives of DBEs, small business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE). The program will help diverse communities get opportunities to benefit from historic state and federal transportation investments.
The DBE Summit will feature community partners, Caltrans leaders, dedicated small business liaisons for Caltrans districts and current contractors. Representatives of specific programs offering mentoring (Caltrans Architectural and Engineering Calmentor and Caltrans Construction Mentor Protégé), training and other services will also be on hand. Topics will include DBE certification, contracting and procurement opportunities, partnerships with local public agencies and a suite of training, educational and networking resources.
“Caltrans is committed to building a world-class transportation system that is founded on equity and that lifts up every community. This DBE Summit is one way we reach out to ensure that opportunity is knocking for small business enterprises, disadvantaged business enterprises, and disabled veteran business enterprises.”
What: Third Annual Caltrans DBE Summit
Where: The Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way, South Richmond, CA
When: Tuesday, October 10, welcome remarks, 8:30 a.m.; panel discussion at 9:45 a.m.; networking and exhibit at 10:30 a.m.
Who: California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin
Caltrans Director Tony Tavares
Caltrans District 4 Director Dina El-Tawansy
Federal Highway Administration Representative
How: Register here for this free event
*For questions, please email smallbusinessadvocate@dot.ca.gov
The DBE Summit is sponsored by Caltrans’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which works to support the Caltrans mission of providing a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system for all Californians. Caltrans policies and practices in contracting and procurement are designed to advance the goal of building generational wealth and reducing the wealth gap by creating more prime, joint venture and equitable contracting opportunities for historically underutilized businesses. Caltrans was one of the inaugural signatories of the Equity in Infrastructure pledge to further that objective.