Program funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program is funded by the United States Department of Transportation and administered by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).  Three major USDOT operating administrations are involved in the DBE program. They are the Federal Highway Administration, The Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The DOT DBE program is carried out by the state and local transportation agencies under the rules and guidelines in the Code of Federal Regulations. (Title 49, Part 26).

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program was created to:

▪    Ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of Federally assisted contracts.

▪    Create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete for Federally assisted contracts.

▪    Help remove barriers that affect participation of DBEs in Federally assisted contracts.

▪    Assist the development of firms so that they can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE program.

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services (DBE/SS) Program is one that has been consistently operated as an adjunct to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.  Statutory authorization exists for the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) implementation of the program.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the DBE/SS is to provide training, assistance, and services to DBE firms certified in the DBE program so as to increase their activity in the program, and to facilitate the firms' development into viable, self-sufficient organizations capable of competing for, and performing on federally assisted highway projects.

The Benefits

The DBE Program provides companies with substantial benefits, including:

▪    DBE certified companies will be listed in the ALDOT and DBE Supportive Services Directories that are distributed among prime contractors and consultants.

▪    DBEs will receive information regarding upcoming ALDOT projects as well as other state and

▪    local projects.

▪    Access to the Alabama’s DBE Supportive Services programs.

Supportive Services training and assistance include:

▪                      Need Assessments 

▪                      Technical Assistance

▪                      One-on-one Counseling 

▪                      Classroom Training

▪                      Learning and Skills enhancement workshops on relevant topics such as:  Accounting and Financial Management, Bonding and Insurance; understanding Business Plans; QuickBooks, Contracts, Networking and Marketing, and Business Management

Stillman College administers ALDOT’s DBE Supportive Services program for the following west Alabama counties:

Contact information for Stillman College’s DBE Supportive Services office is as follows:

 Janet M. Willis, Director, jwillis@stillman.edu

or Edith W. Byrd, Assistant Director, ebyrd@stillman.edu

Office:  3601 Stillman Blvd, Hay College Center

Mailing:  PO Drawer 1430

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403

Phone: (205) 247-8102 or (205) 366-8973

Fax:  (205) 247-8021

HELPFUL LINKS

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION  www.dot.state.al.us

U.S. DOT FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION www.fhwa.dot.gov