State News Release

Washington State Department of Transportation

Date: December 01, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brenda Nnambi, Director Office of Equal Opportunity, 360-705-7090


WSDOT Seeks Comments on DBE Contracting Goals

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is holding a series of public meetings to gather comments on the agency's proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) interim goals. DBE goals represent a percentage of work that would be allocated to disadvantaged, minority, and women business enterprises for federally funded transportation projects. These sessions are being held as part of a continuing effort to ensure that all firms have full and fair access to WSDOT contracts.

"Public involvement is an important and necessary part of the proposed goal setting process," said Brenda Nnambi, WSDOT Office of Equal Opportunity director. "We're interested in hearing from consulting firms, trade and minority organizations, and contractors - minority, women-owned and general business contractors alike - regarding the proposed goals." WSDOT will consider all comments received prior to the agency determining final goals for federal fiscal year 2006.

Dates and locations of the meetings are:

Monday, December 12, Seattle

South Seattle Community College,

Duwamish Apprenticeship and Education Center Safety Training Laboratory 6770 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle

Tuesday, December 13, Spokane

Spokane Community College,

Littlefoot Room, Building 6

1810 N. Greene St., Spokane

Wednesday, December 14, Yakima

Yakima Valley Community College

Parker Room, Deccio Higher Education Center South 16th and Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima

Monday, December 19, Vancouver

Water Resource Education Center

4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA.

All meetings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at each location. The meeting sites are accessible to persons with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by calling Fatema Aboutalep at 360-705-7092, no later than December 8.

Comments will be accepted from December 1, 2005 until January 17, 2006.

Interested persons may also participate by submitting written comments.

Send comments to: Washington State Department of Transportation, Office of Equal Opportunity, PO Box 47314, Olympia, WA, or email to: Fatema Aboutalep, aboutaf@wsdot.wa.gov <mailto:aboutaf@wsdot.wa.gov>.

The 2006 proposed DBE goals are available for review at all WSDOT region offices and at the WSDOT headquarters building in Olympia. For more information visit WSDOT's Web page at: <http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/oeo/>