Impact of COVID-19 on Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Minnesota

Abstract

1044724Minnesota\u2019s Office of Civil Rights at the Minnesota Department of Transportation administers the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. The DBE program is intended to remedy past and current discrimination against disadvantaged business enterprises, ensure a level playing field and foster equal opportunity in DOT-assisted contracts, improve the flexibility and efficiency of the DBE program, and reduce burdens on small businesses. The last Needs Assessment of The Minnesota Department of Transportation\u2019s (MnDOT) Office of Civil Rights Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and On-the-Job Training/Supportive Services (OJT/SS) programs was conducted in 2020. With the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic, MnDOT\u2019s Office of Civil Rights partnered with The Improve Group, a research and evaluation firm, to develop and conduct an analysis on the impact of COVID-19 on disadvantaged business enterprises in Minnesota engaged in highway heavy construction and providing professional and technical services. In assessing this impact, The Improve Group utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to outline the effects of COVID-19 on business stability, support received from MnDOT to alleviate impact, and generate recommendations for MnDOT to consider for use in the future