PSI has held a contract with the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) for the Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Program since 2000. The DBE Program is a civil rights program designed to level the playing field for women, disabled and minority business owners. We serve approximately 100 businesses each year, most located in very rural areas, on the nation’s smallest DBE budget.
Each year we identify areas of need for DBE participants using a DBE Needs Assessment Survey. We then tailor the program to suit the unique needs of South Dakota business owners based on survey results. DBEs are eligible to receive the following supportive services (at no cost) from the SDDOT through our capacity building and business development plan services:
- Business plan development, financial planning, accounting systems, recordkeeping, SDDOT pre-qualification requirements, securing insurance, bidding and estimating, bonding and loans or lines of credit, computer applications and work diversification
- Orientation to the SDDOT bidding process for newly certified DBEs
- A bi-weekly newsletter with upcoming bid information and resources
- Job shadowing and mentor opportunities
- Seminars, workshops, and coaching
- Enrollment in the Boot Camp program, a 10-module business development course
- Inclusion in the DBE directory, a marketing tool that includes a capability profile for each DBE firm
We specifically focus on providing supportive services, such as DBE application assistance, bid preparation, technical training, and business and finance analysis, as well as business development and capacity building programs for woman- and minority-owned companies certified as DBEs.
In order to create the most relevant training materials, PSI collaborates with state and local resources. We work extensively with our resource partners to better understand the challenges that DBE business owners are facing, coordinate learning materials and resources, and keep abreast of business and economic development trends. Some of our resource partners include the Small Business Administration, the South Dakota Center for Enterprise Opportunity, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Native American Development Centers, as well as other government contracting offices.
