The Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) Office of Civil Rights is pleased to announce the recent award from the Delaware Department of Labor – Division of Employment Award in the amount of $75,000 for the implementation of the TRAIN Program (Today’s Reinvestment Around Industry Needs). The program will be administered as a collaborative effort between DelDOT, FHWA Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Delaware Contractors Association (DCA), DiSabatino Construction, Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG), Corrado Construction Company, Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) of Delaware, New Castle County – ; Economic Development Office, and AA Consulting.

DelDOT is making significant investments in transportation infrastructure over the next seven years, with more than $4 billion of investments planned (47% of which is subsidized by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding). Federal investment brings federal mandates to provide training aimed at moving women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals into journey level positions to ensure that a competent workforce is available to meet highway construction hiring needs.

As such, this grant will enable the Department to work closely with Delaware certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms to help strengthen their core business and build up their workforce in the highway construction industry. The program is scheduled to take place over a 12-month period beginning in October 2020.

“Infrastructure construction provides thousands of jobs in our state and this program is a great opportunity to increase the diversity of our workforce and ensure we are creating job opportunities for Delaware residents,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

“These last several months have been extremely difficult for small businesses and the workforce that supports them. This strategic workforce development program will allow an opportunity for these businesses to receive intensive training that will strengthen their businesses and prepare them to work on the many upcoming construction opportunities here in Delaware. In addition, these businesses will add to their workforce individuals that are looking for opportunities in the construction workspace. It’s a full circle approach where we all support one another with the goal of getting small businesses back on track and supporting workforce development here in Delaware,” offered DelDOT’s Civil Rights Administrator, Wendy Henry.

The TRAIN Program is designed to address the federal mandate and promote economic growth through increased participation of women, minorities, and disadvantaged individuals in skilled and semi-skilled crafts. DelDOT, in collaboration with our partners, will undertake this TRAIN initiative to increase the availability of qualified workers, ultimately increasing the Department’s and our partner’s federal compliance success rate.