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Transportation Cabinet
Transportation Cabinet Provides Federal Funding to Expand Minority and Women Construction Training Program

          The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office for Business and Occupational Development has provided federal funding to the Kentucky Small Business Development Centers (KSBDC) to expand a comprehensive training program for minority and women contractors and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) throughout the Commonwealth.  This program would not be possible without the support of the Federal Highway Administration and the collaborative efforts of the Kentucky Association of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (KADBE).  Additional supporters include the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s Small Minority Business Division and Kentucky Housing Corporation.

“Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is committed to increasing the opportunities for all minorities and women in the Commonwealth,” said acting Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert. “Whether it’s by supporting result driven programs such as the Kentucky Minority and Women Construction Training Program or through the cabinet’s initiatives, we will continue to strive to create advantageous avenues to enhance the quality of life for all minorities and women.”

The program, originally hosted by the Lexington SBDC in past years, will kick off in Lexington in early October and extend to Hopkinsville, Louisville, Northern Kentucky and Paintsville by the end of October. The goal of the Kentucky Minority and Women Construction Training Program is to increase the pool of qualified DBEs by enhancing technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills in order to meet the demands in a rapid changing highway industry.  This will be accomplished by offering this extensive training program and other support services to DBEs and minority or women owned businesses.

“The road to a successful business is to clearly provide a vision of where the company should be headed,” said Arthur McKee, Executive Director of the Office for Business and Occupational Development. “This program offers a chance for DBEs to develop this vision.”

The three-phase program is designed to meet the program’s goal.  During Phase I, participants will attend a 17-week classroom training course.  Each week the class will meet from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The curriculum includes expert speakers who will discuss business organization, certification, marketing, networking, bidding, contracts and accounting issues (see attached course schedule).  The top candidates in each city will proceed to Phase II.  These individuals will participate in a monthly peer-to-peer mentoring group and be assigned a mentor qualified to address issues specific to their industry. Messer Construction, Hall Contracting of Kentucky, Inc. and TEM Electric, three prominent companies, have already signed on as mentors.  Additionally, an alliance broker will be working on behalf of the DBEs to seek out business opportunities. A customized promotional packet will also be designed for the Phase II DBEs which will be sent to their targeted market. All Phase II DBEs will receive one free annual membership to a contractors association. In Phase III, the program will seek to provide opportunities for the Phase II participants by helping to encourage and facilitate Supplier Diversity Programs within the private sector.  All program participants will have individual access to SBDC counselors at any time throughout the program.

The program is open to women or minorities that have at least a 51% interest in a construction company or have a construction skill and are interested in starting a construction business.  The cost is free for a businesses certified as a DBE and $50 for all others.  For more information or to download an application visit www.ksbdc.org.  All participants will be required to fill out an application. Due to limited seating, a completed application does not guaranteed acceptance in the program.  The program is not only looking for qualified students, but also speakers and corporate mentors.  If you are interested please contact Dee Dee Harbut, with Kentucky Small Business Development Centers, at dharbut@uky.edu or 859-257-7667.

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