The Colorado Department of Transportation failed to ensure that minority-owned businesses received a fair share of state-commissioned highway work in recent years, according to an agency internal draft study.
Among the findings of the report examining disparities between work given to Anglo-owned contractors and firms deemed disadvantaged are indications that discrimination lingers in the transportation industry, particularly affecting African-American companies.
“In general, minority firms feel they still encounter obstacles to doing business with CDOT contractors,” the report states.
The federal government requires states to create minority-outreach programs and investigate shortfalls in hiring as a condition of receiving federal aid, including economic stimulus funds.
Transportation officials declined to comment Friday.
Colorado’s intensive inquiry studied the availability of minority contractors and the competitive environment for contracts overseen by CDOT between 2002 and 2007, while also interviewing dozens of contractors about their perceptions of the process.
The draft refers to data collected by the state but discloses few specific statistics, such as the number or prevalence of minority-owned contractors eligible for work and the breakdown among Latinos, blacks and women.
Recommendations made
The study does recommend several approaches for shifting more work to minority businesses, including:
• Raising the bar on the percentage of minority firms sought for certain contracts to 13.3 percent. In recent years, the state has fallen short of its 12.8 percent goal.
• Aggressive outreach to the businesses to ensure they are certified as disadvantaged.
• Creating more task forces and focus groups to follow through on findings and recommendations.
Leaders of the state’s minority business community credited the state for seeking to improve its hiring track record through disparity research.
But the findings, they said, confirm that discrimination problems have long infected the competitive environment for winning CDOT contracts.
“The state has been very negligent in their response to the African-American business community,” said Bob Jackson, owner of Jackson Construction, and a member of the African-American Construction Council. “CDOT has been mainly the problem.”
Reports of mistreatment
Helga Grunerud, director of the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, said she’s heard numerous complaints from minority-owned firms about being mistreated by prime contractors used by CDOT.
“Much of it is not real overt,” Grunerud said. “I’ve heard comments from minority contractors saying project managers from large companies are sometimes saying abusive things or making remarks about their ethnicity.”
Since 2007, the department has sought to improve its outreach through various programs and committees seated with minority business leaders. And Debra Gallegos, manager of CDOT’s Center for Equal Opportunity, said the state is adamant about pursuing better practices to improve relations.
Miles Moffeit: 303-954-1415 or mmoffeit@denverpost.com
