November 21, 2005
“I’m working to make sure that federal transportation funds bring real benefits to the East Bay in the form of new jobs, safer roads, faster commutes, and more innovative and environmentally friendly transportation options,” said Lee. “I am committed to making sure that the small businesses, particularly minority and women-owned businesses, are aware of the business opportunities presented by these funds and projects and are in a position to take advantage of them.”
Through Congresswoman Lee’s work, California’s Ninth U.S. Congressional District will receive more than $13 million in earmarked funding for transportation projects designed to strengthen public transportation, expand recreational opportunities, improve public safety, and reduce traffic as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) bill passed by Congress earlier this year. The bill sets national transportation priorities and is the first comprehensive transportation bill to pass Congress since 1998. It includes a total of $286 billion in total funding of which California stands to gain approximately $3.5 billion a year for the next six years.
At today’s event, representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation and other government agencies assisted small business owners in understanding how to make bids for these federal contracts. Representatives from organizations, like the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, whose projects will receive funds from SAFETEA-LU explained their projects and the local business opportunities they involve.
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Barbara Lee Gives East Bay Small Businesses a Seat at the Table for Federal Transportation Funds
(Oakland, CA) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) convened a business roundtable in Oakland today to make sure that East Bay small businesses, particularly minority and women owned businesses, are in a position to bid on contracts for local federally funded transportation projects.“I’m working to make sure that federal transportation funds bring real benefits to the East Bay in the form of new jobs, safer roads, faster commutes, and more innovative and environmentally friendly transportation options,” said Lee. “I am committed to making sure that the small businesses, particularly minority and women-owned businesses, are aware of the business opportunities presented by these funds and projects and are in a position to take advantage of them.”
Through Congresswoman Lee’s work, California’s Ninth U.S. Congressional District will receive more than $13 million in earmarked funding for transportation projects designed to strengthen public transportation, expand recreational opportunities, improve public safety, and reduce traffic as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) bill passed by Congress earlier this year. The bill sets national transportation priorities and is the first comprehensive transportation bill to pass Congress since 1998. It includes a total of $286 billion in total funding of which California stands to gain approximately $3.5 billion a year for the next six years.
At today’s event, representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation and other government agencies assisted small business owners in understanding how to make bids for these federal contracts. Representatives from organizations, like the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, whose projects will receive funds from SAFETEA-LU explained their projects and the local business opportunities they involve.