Chicago and Philadelphia’s reciprocal arrangement for disadvantaged businesses could become a national model.

Anser Advisory, ranked 14 in ENR’s 2022 Top 50 Program Management Firms, 2nd on the Zweig AE Fastest Growing Hot List for 2022, and a certified Great Places to Work organization, has increased their commitment to equity through supporting the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP).

Shawn Wilson, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, on right, signs onto the Equity in Infrastructure Project on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, along with heads of five other state transportation infrastructure agencies.

Six state DOTs have pledged to create more prime contracting opportunities for historically disadvantaged businesses in IIJA work.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) hosted the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and other transportation equity champions for a signing of a reciprocity agreement on Jan. 9 between the CTA and SEPTA. The agreement allows historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) to gain a single small business enterprise certification to perform work for both transit entities.

The chief executives of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Philadelphia-centered Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) signed a “reciprocity agreement” on January 9 that would allow historically underutilized businesses or HUBs to work for both agencies via a single small business enterprise (SBE) certification.

On October 11, six state department of transportation chief executives signed a national pledge at a ceremony in the nation’s capital as part of their commitment to expand equity opportunities in the infrastructure sector.