North Carolina is an increasingly racially diverse state. However, this increasing diversity is coupled with high levels of race/ethnic economic inequity which is directly related to North Carolina's entrepreneurial inequity (Johnson, 2013; McKoy & Johnson, 2018). Although minority entrepreneurship is at an all-time high in the state (Johnson, 2015), disadvantaged entrepreneurs paradoxically still struggle for equitable participation in business activities. Historically, the public sector has been a leader in creating a bridge to opportunity for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is among the largest public agencies in the state. With an annual operating budget of nearly $4.7 billion, NCDOT manages an expansive transportation system including highways, rail, aviation, ferries, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian transportation. NCDOT's Office of Civil Rights (NCDOT-OCR) aims to understand the effectiveness of its DBE/SBE supportive services and educational programs, as well as their ability to successfully execute them. The purpose of these supportive programs and educational initiatives is to create a transparent pathway for DBE/SBE participation in NCDOT sponsored projects. NCDOT has a business utilization goal of more than 12% of the total program budget being paid to minority- and women-owned businesses.[1]
[1] https://www.ncdot.gov/about-us/our-mission/Documents/2017-annual-report.pdf
