The Illinois Tollway will host an informational meeting to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about its 2023 DBE Disparity Study report examining contracting practices and its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
The information meeting, including a presentation by Colette Holt & Associates, will be held June 8 at 2 p.m. in the Illinois Tollway’s Downers Grove Headquarters. Members of the public can also attend virtually by registering here in the Diversity section of the Tollway’s website www.illinoistollway.com.
The Illinois Tollway’s DBE Program is designed to reduce barriers that limit opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned firms to participate on construction and related professional services contracts awarded by the agency.
The Tollway Board of Directors approved the study on May 25, 2023 to help update the Tollway’s DBE policies to remove obstacles limiting the utilization of small, minority and women-owned firms in competing for agency contracts. The 2023 DBE Disparity Study report is available in the Diversity section on the Tollway’s website.
The 2023 DBE Disparity Study was undertaken as part of a continuing effort by the Illinois Tollway to ensure equal opportunities in all aspects of its Move Illinois capital program, including contracting and consulting.
Conducted by Colette Holt & Associates, the study analyzed how the agency awards construction and professional services contracts, including reviewing the use of the agency’s DBE Program. The study also examined whether disparities exist between the opportunities and experiences of DBEs in the contracting process and the availability of such businesses compared to the utilization of non-DBEs for those contracts. Finally, the study makes recommendations on potential improvements the Tollway could make to further increase the impact of the DBE Program on disadvantaged firms.
The Tollway has worked to increase access to opportunities for small businesses, D/M/WBEs and underemployed individuals through a variety of specialized programs, including the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), the Veterans Business Program and the Partnering For Growth Program.
The agency also has created a Small Business Initiative and Technical Assistance program for small and diverse businesses as well as developed workforce training programs including the Earned Credit Program and ConstructionWorks.
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 152,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region.
The first 11 years of Move Illinois are on schedule and within budget, delivering the rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor and opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project and reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
