DBE Contracting Update: WisDOT signs Zoo Interchange study contract with 22% DBE share

DBE CONTRACTING UPDATE

News for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms and stakeholders

May 2008

Racine events focus on I-94 opportunities

Two recent events in Racine highlighted both potential labor and business opportunities that could be forthcoming on the reconstruction of the I-94 North-South Corridor.

On April 19, about 150 people attended the Racine Partnership Resource Fair held at the Gateway Technical College campus in downtown Racine. The event highlighted training initiatives, community support and education opportunities that will help workers prepare for potential construction job opportunities. WisDOT Deputy Secretary Ruben Anthony, Jr., State Representative Robert Turner and State Representative Cory Mason all spoke to open the event.
On April 24, the Contractors Collaborative Network gathered at the Wingspread Conference Center to talk about strategies and processes for local contractors to earn work on the I-94 reconstruction. Deputy Secretary Anthony spoke to this group of about 50 local business leaders, public officials and development specialists. The assembly also heard from the leaders of two DBE firms that had successfully earned work on the Marquette Interchange Project.

The I-94 North-South Corridor project calls for a $1.9 billion investment to rebuild, redesign and expand the freeway from the Illinois state line north to the Mitchell Interchange area in Milwaukee. WisDOT expects to begin major construction on the project in 2009 with work extending through 2016.

There are already twenty different DBE firms involved on the study and design activities for the I-94 North-South Corridor. Combined, these firms have earned about $10.6 million in contract commitments, representing a 27% share of committed dollars.