Key achievements since EIP’s public launch in April 2022 include a first-of-kind MOU between Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to recognize each others' certified Small Business Enterprises. It’s a model for others to replicate with the goal of broader reciprocity and even a national certification database.
EIP was co-founded by Phillip A. Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport, John D. Porcari, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and others in anticipation of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
EIP brings to life President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and his Executive Order to increase the share of diverse firms fulfilling infrastructure contracts.
Five First Mover agencies helped shape the Pledge, identify initial projects of interest, and prove the concept. EIP has since grown to include multiple public, private and non-profit sector partners, and it works closely with USDOT and other stakeholders.
Over the course of the past year, we have added additional signatories, each of which is led by a CEO committed to the work necessary to achieve the goals of the pledge.
EIP’s goals for 2023 include:
Establishing additional certification reciprocity between agencies;
Identifying and creating solutions to contracting obstacles faced by HUBs;
Launching an accountability dashboard to monitor progress;
Growing the Advisory Council to include more members across industries, sectors, and backgrounds; and,
Developing a best practices forum.
The Equity in Infrastructure Pledge
Starting from the baseline of their current actions and initiatives, by December 2025, Pledge signers will work to increase the number, size and percentage of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) growing to prime contractors, participating in joint ventures or as equity participants.
They will work toward this effort by:
Increasing the number, size and proportion of contracting opportunities going to HUBs;
Increasing the number, size and proportion of contracting opportunities going to HUBs as prime contractors;
Streamlining the administration of contracting with HUBs to centralize certification, improve payment time, and standardize transparent data collection;
Increasing the amount and type of appropriate financing available to HUBs aiming to meet infrastructure contracts by working with private and public partners; and
Expanding the number of signatories to this Pledge.