The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is making strides to involve minority-owned and other small businesses in its major transportation projects, aiming to bring economic opportunity and community growth to Arizona’s small business sector.
On Tuesday, ADOT hosted its 2024 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Small Business Conference in Mesa, themed “Think Big,” to help local entrepreneurs learn how to secure contracts on projects like the I-10 Broadway Curve. More than 200 small business owners, including both startups and established enterprises, gathered to gain insights and establish valuable contacts within the transportation industry.
One of the event’s highlights was GJH Motors, a minority-owned equipment repair company, which has been a subcontractor on ADOT’s Broadway Curve project. Founder Sylvia Smith emphasized how the partnership with ADOT has been transformational for her business.
“We have mobile trucks, so they are on the job site,” Smith explained. “Anything that could cause downtime for an operator, we are there to fix it.” She credits ADOT’s DBE program with helping her business survive the economic impact of the pandemic, describing it as a “life-changing” opportunity.
Smith’s experience underscores the significance of ADOT’s outreach efforts to small businesses. ADOT spokesperson Steve Elliott described the event’s goal as empowering small businesses to “compete successfully for transportation contracts,” adding that this approach “helps diversify our contracting and empowers Arizona’s economy.”
Among the attendees was Juan Gonzalez, owner of the family startup Taxi Karaoke, who is hoping to grow his company by networking with industry leaders. Gonzalez’s company offers customers a fun twist on ridesharing: “You can sing your way to work, or wherever you want to go. The airport, you name it!” After the conference, Gonzalez felt well-equipped with new contacts and knowledge. “It was informational, educational. I have more information, like where to start now,” he said.
ADOT’s DBE program offers a crucial platform for small businesses, enabling them to thrive through contracts that extend beyond infrastructure, supporting employees and their families. For Smith and her team of six, the Broadway Curve project is a lifeline, helping her business stabilize and grow. “These projects really go beyond the roads. It provides for families. It puts food on the table. You have to look at it from a bigger perspective,” Smith said.
Local small business owners who missed the conference but are interested in ADOT’s DBE opportunities can learn more at AZDOT.gov/dbe.
