TCDP: Minnesota Stimulus Dollars Bypass Blacks, Other Communities of Color

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (AARA) called for $50 billion to build and repair the nation's roads, bridges, railways and ports "to preserve and create jobs" and "to assist those most impacted by the recession." It explicitly states that investments should prioritize those hit hardest by the recession - those in distressed communities who have a high percentage of low-income households or high unemployment rates.

According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, nearly 2,000 contractors have been awarded stimulus money for highway and bridge projects. However, the Federal Procurement Data System reports that only one federal transportation contract has gone to a Black-owned business (in Nevada).