Supportive Services - Overview

 

What is Supportive Services?

The Missouri Department of Transportation's Supportive Services program, an element of the External Civil Rights Division, is the flagship program of the department designed to develop the capability and capacity of those Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms which were not used as much as would be expected in highway construction work.

What services do Supportive Services offer?

Supportive Services offers the:

• Business Coaching Program
• Business Assistance Centers
• Entrepreneurship Training Program
• DBE Needs Assessment
• DBE Communications
• North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Expansion Program

How do I contact Supportive Services?

Contact the following individuals:

Patricia Weekley
External Civil Rights Division
314-453-5027
Patricia.Weekley@modot.mo.gov

Kellye Adams
External Civil Rights Division
314-453-5029
kellye.adams@modot.mo.gov

 

What is the program's history?

The Supportive Services program started with a 24-month pilot program called Accelerated Business Development Training. This program sponsored training for 20 DBE firms around St. Louis and Kansas City.

During its two-year run, the program achieved the following:

• Of the initial 20 participants, 10 firms have either completed or are currently working on MoDOT contracts or subcontracts.
• All of the participating firms have been trained in business strategies and planning, business growth, financing, product/service research and development and marketing analysis. This training was based on the FastTrac Growth Venture business development series.
• All of the participating firms completed and presented a comprehensive business plan.