Diversity Matters!

              The Target Market section of Senate Bill 51 (Public Act 96-0975) became effective on January 1, 2011, and the Illi-nois Department of Trans-portation (IDOT) has launched a Target Market Program to help achieve di-versity goals outlined in this new law.
On February 25, the Illinois Department of Transporta-tion (IDOT) held its first spe-cial letting for project con-tracts under the program.
Recruitment Team Hits the Road
To assist minority-owned and women-owned firms in the Target Market Program, IDOT is waiving bid bond requirements for all Target Market contracts. In addition, the department will extend the contract award period from the current 45 days to 60 days to allow additional time for qualified firms to complete IDOT contracting requirements.
IDOT anticipates about $103.5 million in state-only
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) engi-neer recruitment team is on the road again, searching for the best and brightest young candidates in the engineering field. The department’s goal is to diversify the civil engineer-ing applicant pool, and the recruitment team has trav-eled beyond Illinois borders to visit member schools with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the His-panic Association of Colleges and Universities that have Accreditation Board for Engi-neering and Technology (ABET) accredited civil engineering
programs. Three trips have been completed with 48 in-terviews conducted at the following schools: University of Houston, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University, Florida A&M Uni-versity, Florida State Univer-sity, University of Central Florida and Florida Atlantic University. Two more trips are scheduled during the Spring 2011 recruitment season, and applications will be accepted through April 15, 2011.
The department’s in-state recruitment efforts include
the seven Illinois universities with ABET accredited civil engineering programs. The department emphasizes re-cruitment of students from the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of His-panic Professional Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. Recruiters will also attend career fairs and con-duct information sessions for these student chapters throughout the month of March. This multi-layered approach is designed to fulfill the IDOT goal of attracting a diverse and qualified work-force.
Target Market’s First Letting
Diversity Matters!
MARCH 2011
Diversity Steering Committee Formed
The Illinois Depart-ment of Transpor-tation (IDOT) has formed a Diversity Steering Commit-tee to help im-prove diversity among contractors and employees working for IDOT.
The committee’s main priority is to develop strategies to improve service and responsiveness to small businesses and individuals seeking to do busi-ness or become employed in the transportation in-dustry, and work throughout IDOT to assist in imple-menting those strategies.
The committee includes IDOT executive staff members from the Office of the Secre-tary, Division of Highways, Office of Finance and Ad-ministration, Office of Chief Counsel, Bureau of Civil Rights, Office of Business and Workforce Diver-sity and the Office of Communica-tions.
Diversity Matters! is a new publication by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) designed to highlight new and existing programs and issues of interest to disadvantaged businesses, and to inform small businesses and individuals about contracting and job opportunities. Diversity Matters! provides information about the many ways in which IDOT is addressing diversity needs and issues in the workplace every day.
Future publications will include letting information, mentoring and scholarship opportunities, upcoming Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs and events, and details about the 2011 construction season. We hope Diversity Matters! will educate and serve as a reliable resource for all who have an inter-est in the workings of state government.
funds to be available for the entire Target Market Pro-gram in Calendar Year 2011. The department’s goal for Target Market project awards is $31 million. The depart-ment’s aspirational goal for minority-owned and women-owned firms is 22.77 percent of the department’s total construction project work.
For more information about the Target Market Program and process, visit the IDOT Target Market web site at www.dot.il.gov/targetmarket/