The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) launched its “Pathways to Entrepreneurship Program: Powering Small Businesses in Emerging Transportation Markets” one-day pilot program experience.

The event brought together approximately 400 small business owners, academic leaders and transportation stakeholders to provide an overview of the Pathways to Entrepreneurship (P2E) pilot program for small businesses.

"The Biden-Harris Administration has made a generational investment in our transportation infrastructure—and we’re also making sure that small and disadvantaged businesses are part of the work to build and rebuild our transportation systems,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “The successful launch of the Pathways to Entrepreneurship pilot program is part of our continued work to create equitable access to economic opportunities so small and disadvantaged businesses can thrive in emerging transportation markets today and in the decades ahead.” 

The complete P2E program has three pillars, or “pathways,” to entrepreneurship designed for small disadvantaged businesses, historically black colleges and universities and their students.

The P2E program is designed to empower small businesses seeking to pivot into new and emerging transportation markets and engage with instructors and students at historically black colleges and universities.

“I am pleased with the overwhelming success of the Pathways to Entrepreneurship pilot program event because it exemplifies our commitment to providing small and disadvantaged businesses with access to high-level, high-quality resources and knowledge to grow their businesses and ultimately create wealth,” said Tyra Redus, USDOT director of Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization “We are excited about the next phase of the Pathways to Entrepreneurship program.” 

The OSDBU is currently gathering feedback from participants, panelists, industry stakeholders, and academia from the event. The feedback will be used to shape the structure and duration of the P2E pilot program which is anticipated to launch in FY2025.