DOWNERS GROVE, IL, July 27, 2017 — The Illinois Tollway, in partnership with the Construction Business Development Center (CBDC), is hosting an opening event for its first Technical Assistance Program location in the Rockford area at Rock Valley College.
“For the first time, construction firms in Rockford and Boone County will have this valuable program available to them right in their own back yards,” said Illinois Tollway Board Director Earl Dotson Jr. “We look forward to helping Rockford businesses gain the knowledge and skills they need to grow and succeed in doing business with the Tollway.”
This free event will provide an opportunity for disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms, as well as veteran-owned firms and small businesses, to learn about available technical assistance resources and how they can apply to the Illinois Tollway’s Technical Assistance Program.
The Technical Assistance Program is designed to prepare established transportation-related construction firms to participate as subcontractors and prime contractors on heavy highway and vertical construction contracts. Contractors and other businesses participating in the program will receive guidance in gaining access to capital, back-office support, bonding, business management and operations, certification, gaining prequalification from the Illinois Department of Transportation and one-on-one coaching.
“The Illinois Tollway is committed to creating opportunities for small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses to work with us to design, build and maintain our roadways, bridges and facilities,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Greg Bedalov. “By establishing our Technical Assistance Program in Rockford we are demonstrating our commitment to expanding Tollway efforts to provide assistance to firms throughout Northern Illinois.”
The event will be held on Tuesday, August 8, at the Rock Valley College Stenstrom Center, 4151 Samuelson Road, in Rockford from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. Businesses interested in participating are encouraged to register by August 4, as seating is limited, by emailing CBDC Manager Paul Murtagh at pmurtagh@prairiestate.edu.
Speakers will include Illinois Tollway Executive Director Greg Bedalov, Rock Valley College President Dr. Douglas J. Jensen, Tollway Diversity and Strategic Development Chief Gustavo Giraldo, CBDC Director Paul Murtagh and CBDC Construction Business Specialist LaTasha Binder.
“At Prairie State College, we are so pleased to have been given the opportunity to partner with Rock Valley College in establishing a new location for the Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program that’s dedicated to assisting the emerging transportation-related construction companies in Northern Illinois become prepared to work on Illinois Tollway projects,” said Prairie State College President Dr. Terri L. Winfree. “We are grateful to the Illinois Tollway for its partnership with the Construction Business Development Center at PSC as they assist these companies in making a positive impact on their bottom line and increasing employment in the region.”
Participants will learn more about the Tollway’s commitment to diversity and its Technical Assistance Program at Rock Valley College, which is administered by the CBDC.
“Rock Valley College is excited about this partnership with the Illinois Tollway and Prairie State College,” said Rock Valley College President Dr. Doug Jensen. “We look forward to seeing the Tollway strengthen its presence for business development in Rockford and we applaud their efforts to establish stronger relationships with minority-owned small businesses.”
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway’s 15-year, $14 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, is improving mobility, relieving congestion, reducing pollution, creating as many as 120,000 jobs and linking economies throughout the region. The first five years of Move Illinois is on schedule and within budget, delivering the rebuilt and widened Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor and opening a new interchange connecting the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57. Progress continues on projects addressing the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system, delivering the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project and planning for emerging projects, including reconstruction of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294).
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 292 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.
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Contact: Dan Rozek