Published by Colette Holt & Associates

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) performed a study in conformance with constitutional standards and best practices for DBE programs to determine its utilization of Disadvantaged, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (collectively “DBEs” or “D/M/ WBEs”); the availability of DBEs in its market area; any disparities in its wider economy between the business formation rates and receipts of DBEs and those of White male-owned firms. This was used to evaluate whether the use of race-conscious measures is supported by the results of this analysis. The study collected anecdotal data about barriers to full and fair opportunities on the basis of race/ethnicity or gender and evaluated CTA’s DBE programs.