AATA OKs Disadvantaged Businesses Policy

At a special meeting held on July 19, 2011, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board authorized a policy establishing a goal that 3.4% of U.S. Dept. of Transportation contracting opportunities be given to disadvantaged businesses.

The U.S. DOT requires that entities receiving federal funds have a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and that the program include the kind of goals the board approved. The AATA policy approved by the board specifies that of the 3.4%, 2% is to be achieved through “race conscious” methods and the remaining 1.4% through “race neutral” methods.

This brief was filed shortly after the AATA board met at its headquarters on 2700 South Industrial Highway. A more detailed report will follow: [link]