Diversity Statement

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s) Program Policy Statement

Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority shall not discriminate in any manner on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s) have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts financed, in whole or in part, with financial assistance from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), acting through such agencies as the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority shall implement this DBE Program in accordance with Part 26 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations entitled “Participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Programs.”

The objectives of the WPRTA DBE Program are:

*To ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted contracts;

*To ensure that the DBE program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws;

*To ensure that only firms fully meeting the eligibility requirements of the DBE program are permitted to participate;

*To help create a level playing field on which DBEs can fairly compete for DOT-assisted contracts;

*To help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted contracts;

*To help and assist in the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside of the DBE program; and

*To provide appropriate flexibility to establish and provide DBEs opportunities to participate in DOT-assisted contracts in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

These objectives will be implemented through WPRTA’s DBE Program utilizing race-neutral measures to the maximum extent feasible.