Stillman College Disadvantaged Business Enterprises

Earnestine Parrish
lbaker@stillman.edu
Program Director

How to Contact Us
Stillman College
DBE Supportive Services
Program
P.O. Box 1430
Tuscaloosa, AL 35403
(205)247-8018 or
Toll Free 1-877-572-3645
Fax: (205)752-3880

Stillman College DBE Supportive Services Program operates under the guidance of Luanne Baker, Program Director, Earnestine Parrish, Assistant Program Director and Mary Pruitt, Clerical Assistant. Together, they have over fifteen years with the DBE Program, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Civil Rights, Small Business Administration, the Alabama Department of Transportation and assisting small business owners.

The Supportive Services team at Stillman College assists the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) with increasing its participation of small historically disadvantaged businesses that have in the past been under utilized. Special emphasis is placed on those highway and transportation related projects where federal funds have been allocated.

In 1989, Stillman College was the first historically black college (HBCU) in the State of Alabama to be awarded the DBE Supportive Services contract. The DBE Program was formed under a ruling of the Surface and Transportation Act in 1982 that became law in 1983. Each state was required to establish a certification process to assist socially and economically disadvantaged business firms with acquiring contracts through their Department of Transportation.

Our Mission at Stillman College is to provide assistance to all firms that are certified by the Alabama Department of Transportation. Classroom instruction is provided throughout the state to certified firms, at no cost to the business owner. Topics of instruction vary as we embark into the 21st Century. Some topics we focus on are: Metrication, Bonding & Insurance, Bid Estimating, Accounting, Project Scheduling and Plan Reading. Technical assistance is available upon request. The DBE Progam has been the recipient of the "Best Practice Award" by the Federal Highway Administration 13 State Regional Civil Rights Council. Our most recent innovative Project was the creation of the DBE Contractor's Bid Room, where the Contractors come in and put together their bid packets. We have four laptop computers and other office supplies at their disposal.

Stillman College is an integral part of ALDOT and FHWA's commitment of insuring that disadvantaged business firms are kept informed and educated on new technology and information that is pertinent to the transportation and highway industry.