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CIAC hears separation of small-business development program from DBE after federal rule change
Summary
Staff clarified that the agency’s small business development program is separate from the federal DBE program and will continue as race- and gender-neutral work while DBE definitions change under a new federal rule published in October.
Committee members asked how recent federal regulatory changes affect the agency’s disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program and the small business development program. Moderator and staff explained the two are distinct: the small business development program is a race- and gender-neutral program intended to build capacity among small firms, while DBE status and data are governed by federal DBE rules, which were updated in October.
Moderator explained, "the small business development program is actually separate from our DBE program as far as I understand. I believe it's already race neutral and gender neutral. So it's the DBE specific to the federal definitions." Staff said the small-business program will continue to support capacity building while ODOT adapts to the federal rule change.
