Minority and Women Entrepreneurs Honored During DOT Awards Ceremony

Public Roads, Jan, 2001

Minority and women entrepreneurs who have had significant achievements and made vital contributions to the transportation industry and the nation's economy were honored at a U.S. DOT Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards Ceremony.

The DOT Awards Ceremony was part of the 18th annual national observance of the MED Week Conference, which was celebrated Sept. 24-27, 2000. The theme for MED Week was "New Horizons: The Emerging Minority Marketplace." Former Secretary Slater noted that DOT has exceeded its goals for contract awards to minority-owned businesses for each of the last three years. In 1999, 17.9 percent of DOT contracts went to minority-owned businesses, up from 17 percent the previous year, and well above the department's goal of 14.5 percent. In addition, more DOT contracts are being awarded to businesses owned by women than ever before.