Pilot Entrepreneurial Training and Technical Assistance Women and Girls Program

On September 21, 2009, US Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood announced the “Pilot Entrepreneurial Training and Technical Assistance Women and Girls Program,” a partnership with Spelman College in Atlanta, GA created to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology and help women in the field to achieve their goals. This program will provide internships and mentoring for young women as well as entrepreneurial training for female small business owners in the region.

The new program, managed by a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation and Spelman College, is part of a broader effort, led by the White House, to ensure that federal programs and policies take into account the distinct needs and concerns of women and girls. "Transportation is one of the most challenging and exciting industries in the country right now," Secretary LaHood said. "We'd love to see the women at Spelman and students at high schools, colleges, and universities around the country become our transportation leaders for the 21st century and come work at the U.S. Department of Transportation."

The partnership supports President Obama's mission and work of the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Goals of the Program:

The goals of the Pilot Program are to increase the participation of women in the transportation infrastructure industry and enhance the presence of Department of Transportation resources in an area with one of the most transportation-related opportunities. To accomplish these goals, the pilot program will:

1. identify the current situation for women participation in the transportation infrastructure industry, address those challenges, and improve the status quo;
2. educate young women on the exciting opportunities available in the transportation infrastructure industry and inspire them to enter the science, engineering, and technology fields; and
3. assist small women-owned transportation infrastructure contractors to compete for transportation-related contracts with the Department of Transportation (DOT) or state and local transportation projects receiving DOT funding by informing them of procurement opportunities and the provision of technical and financial assistance programs.

Major Programmatic Activities:

• Establish an internship/mentorship program to entice more of the nation's young talent to enter into transportation-related careers and garner practical experience.
• Conduct town hall meetings and roundtable discussions for small women-owned transportation contractors to identify and develop the types of technical and financial assistance that are supportive of the needs of women to better position them to become more successful transportation-related businesses. The training will also be available to students, particularly those who aspire to become entrepreneurs.

Spelman College is a private, independent, liberal arts, Historically Black College for women, founded in 1881. Spelman College was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #1 among Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and in 2009, was ranked at #77 of all U.S. liberal arts colleges.

www.spelman.edu

Application Process:

Applicants will be selected based on a four part process:

• GPA – 3.0 or higher to qualify
• Letter of interest from the student
• Letter of Recommendation
• Interview

Contact Information:

For more information about participating as an intern or to mentor/offer an internship, please contact:

Bernice Scott, PhD
Spelman College
404-270-6057
bscott@spelman.edu

Romie Tribble, PhD
Spelman College
404-270-5590
rtribble@spelman.edu

For general information and press inquiries, please contact:

Patricia Martin
Program Analyst
US Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary - Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
202-366-5337
Patricia.martin@dot.gov