Judge partially blocks Transportation Dept. program for minorities and women

A federal judge in Kentucky has partially blocked a U.S. Transportation Department program that metes out contracts to minority-owned businesses and suggested he may eventually rule against it, marking the latest blow to a government affirmative action program. Get a curated selection of 10 of our best stories in your inbox every weekend. In a 28-page opinion issued Monday, U.S. District Judge Gregory F.

King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit and other regional transit partners sign ‘Equity in Infrastructure’ Pledge

King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle, Wash., Mayor Bruce Harrell, Sound Transit CEO Goran Sparrman, Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck, Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz and Regional President of Americas, Hill International Micheal Smith signed the ‘Equity in Infrastructure Pledge’ on Aug. 29 at Seattle’s historic Union Station. “King County is committed to advancing equity in contracting and the Equity in Infrastructure Pledge aligns perfectly with our ongoing work to support minority and women-owned businesses,” Constantine said.

Public private coalition, seeking to promote equity, creates opportunities for small and minority-owned Californian businesses

Get our weekly newsletter that addresses potential solutions to the widening inequality gap in California. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Being a business owner was always part of the dream for William Jackson, president and founder of Global Electric. He launched the electrical contracting firm in 2006 and built it up to 25 employees, taking on public works projects in the Los Angeles area and beyond with clients including the city, county, LA Metro, and Metrolink.

CAL Matters: Public Private Coalition, Seeking to Promote Equity, Creates Opportunities for Small and Minority-Owned Californian Businesses

Being a business owner was always part of the dream for William Jackson, president and founder of Global Electric. 

He launched the electrical contracting firm in 2006 and built it up to 25 employees, taking on public works projects in the Los Angeles area and beyond with clients including the city, county, LA Metro, and Metrolink. The team is currently working on light rail vehicle projects and making improvements to stations and platforms for LA Metro. 

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AMERICAN DBE MAGAZINE: Equity in Infrastructure Project Promoting Wealth Creation for Historically Underutilized Businesses

Federal regulations creating programs to increase business opportunities for small and diverse businesses have traditionally focused on participation as the key metric of success. The assumption, or hope, in these programs, is that increased participation by historically underutilized businesses in contracting opportunities will result in economic advancement and greater wealth creation for these entrepreneurs, ultimately leading to the advancement of underserved communities.

Programs such as the U.S.

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