COMTO Selected to Host Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center

USDOT’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization awarded the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) a $445,000 cooperative agreement to provide business development and capacity building support to hundreds of small businesses. Under the initiative, COMTO will host the Region 2 Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center (SBTTAC), which serves the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virgina, and West Virginia.

“This partnership aligns with our mission of ensuring transportation and contracting serve all,” said COMTO President and CEO April Rai. The Region 2 SBTTAC will help small businesses navigate the requirements of transportation contracting and build the capabilities needed to pursue opportunities across various transportation modes. The center will:

• Offer business counseling to help small businesses improve procurement and financial readiness, obtain relevant certifications, develop business plans and marketing strategies, and identify and pursue transportation contracting opportunities.
• Connect businesses with capital and financing resources, including loans, bonding, lines of credit, and working capital.
• Support transportation-focused training addressing procurement, contracting, financial management, bonding, safety, cybersecurity, digital interoperability, and other relevant topics.

“When we invest in our small businesses, we bring jobs to residents, opportunity to communities, and economic prosperity to American families, ” said SBTTAC Executive Director Dawn Tucker.

Learn more about USDOT’s Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Centers.