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MnDOT receives national award for civil rights program
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights recently received the Excellence in Program Administration award from the Federal Highway Administration for its efforts in establishing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Workforce Collaborative program. The award recognizes MnDOT’s Collaborative model and its success in improving and strengthening the state’s external civil rights program.
MnDOT created the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Workforce Collaborative in 2008 as a way to encourage dialogue between various stakeholders in the construction industry.
“The collaborative acts as a change agent to improve diversity in roadway projects, both from a workforce and small businesses perspective,” said MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel. “The collaborative mission is to ensure that participation in the transportation industry reflects the demographics of Minnesota and the communities we serve.”
Membership in the collaborative includes several representatives from the construction industry:
- Contractors
- Union and non-union workforce and contractors
- Employment and business advocates
- Job training providers
- Disadvantaged business contractors
- Communities of color
- Women in the building trades
- The Federal Highway Administration
- Workforce developers and community training programs
- Veterans
- MnDOT employees
In 2009, the collaborative was assigned a full-time project manager position, which is currently filled by Abe Hassan.
“Working together in the collaborative to identify stakeholder needs and together looking for sustainable solutions has forged mutually beneficial relationships,” Hassan said.
For more information on the collaborative, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/civilrights/collaborative.html.
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