MBN USA

October 02, 2024

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DBE established to help level playing field for MBEs

NMSDC is deeply concerned with the recent decision by a federal judge to grant an injunction on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. This decision undermines decades of progress in promoting economic inclusion for minority businesses in the transportation and infrastructure sectors.

The DBE program, established to level the playing field for minority and disadvantaged businesses, has proven to be a vital tool for fostering economic development, creating jobs, and driving innovation. It ensures that historically underrepresented and small businesses have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the nation’s federally funded transportation infrastructure projects.

This decision will have a direct and damaging impact on many of NMSDC’s minority business enterprises (MBE) who rely on the DBE program for opportunities to engage in public-sector contracting. If this injunction is carried out nationally, it could lead to severe economic consequences for countless MBE businesses and their workers, limiting their ability to participate in future infrastructure projects and reducing their overall economic footprint. These negative effects would ripple across the economy, hitting not only minority communities but also local economies that benefit from these businesses’ success.

NMSDC CEO and President Ying McGuire, emphasized the importance of such programs, “The DBE program has been an undeniable success, not only for minority businesses but for the American economy as a whole. For decades, this initiative has empowered minority entrepreneurs to grow, innovate, and create jobs, directly contributing to stronger, more resilient communities. We must ensure that these businesses continue to have the opportunity to thrive and that critical programs like the DBE are protected.”

NMSDC remains committed to working with federal, state, and local governments, as well as private sector partners, to uphold the integrity and impact of initiatives that promote economic equity. Now more than ever, we must stand united in defense of policies that support minority businesses and drive economic growth across all sectors.

Learn more about the U.S. Department of Transportation’s DBE program on its website at https://www.transportation.gov/civil-rights/disadvantaged-business-enterprise.