METRO is on track to meet its aggressive goals for utilizing small and disadvantaged businesses on its light rail expansion project.  This upbeat progress report was made by METRO President & CEO Frank J. Wilson to the METRO Board of Directors in late March.

From FY 2006 through year end 2007, $12 million has been paid to Small/Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (SBE/DBE's) in Houston for the rail expansion project.  This amount is 28 percent of the total paid for development work for the five new rail lines.  Of the money spent, 25 percent went to African American-owned businesses, 32 percent to Hispanic-owned businesses, 17 percent to Asian-owned businesses, and 26 percent to Caucasian female-owned businesses.    

For all METRO projects involving architecture and engineering contracts since Fiscal Year 2006 (including METRO Solutions), 312 contracts and sub-contracts were awarded totaling $142 million, of which $55 million (38 percent) was committed to Small/Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (SBE/DBEs).  Those SBE/DBEs include African American-owned businesses (28 percent), Hispanic-owned businesses (31 percent), Asian-owned businesses (21 percent), and Caucasian female-owned businesses.

"The METRO Solutions project is generating hundreds of millions of dollars for the Houston region," said Wilson. "So far, we've achieved a fair and balanced utilization of Houston's diverse business community."

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