Pathways to Entrepreneurship Program: Powering Small Businesses in Emerging Transportation Markets

U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)

Please join us for A One-Day Pilot Program Experience, Pathways to Entrepreneurship Program: Powering Small Businesses in Emerging Transportation Markets. The one-day pilot program experience takes place on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (ET). It is hosted by the USDOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Headquarters located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

What is the one-day pilot program experience? 

The complete Pathways to Entrepreneurship Program has three pillars or “pathways” to entrepreneurship designed for Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and HBCU students. The one-day pilot program experience is an overview of the Pathways to Entrepreneurship Program and will feature highlights of the six-month pilot program for small disadvantaged businesses. 

The Pathways to Entrepreneurship program is created to empower small disadvantaged businesses seeking to pivot into new and emerging transportation markets; engage HBCU institutions, and educate aspiring HBCU students with an entrepreneurial mindset eager to explore new transportation markets and help them consider transportation career options upon graduation. 

Our overall Pathways to Entrepreneurship program goal is to provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and resources to navigate cutting-edge technology markets and contribute to wealth-building in underserved communities. 

Why we need you

We are in the early stages of developing this transformative program for small disadvantaged businesses, which is focused on integrating new technologies like AVs (Autonomous Vehicles), UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), and EVs (Electric Vehicles) into the transportation industry. 

Your participation in the one-day pilot experience is crucial in enhancing this program to ensure it meets YOUR needs and maximizes its impact. We are not building this alone or in isolation. We need YOUR feedback to refine the program just as the transportation and technology industries test new products and innovations before they reach the market. 

We have a solid framework, and with your collaboration and shared ideas, together we can create a program that addresses real-world challenges and leverages new technologies in transportation effectively. 

What’s in it for you 

You get a real opportunity to shape the design of this new program that will benefit you and create wealth; meet key USDOT leaders; engage and network with transportation and tech industry leaders; and with “pathfinders” (small business owners) who have successfully pivoted into the emerging transportation technologies. Also, you will receive information and materials on potential funding opportunities, gain a clear understanding as to why this program is critical to the future of transportation, and learn about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) opportunities on the horizon.   

Who should attend this one-day pilot program experience 

• Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) looking for new opportunities in transportation
• Prime and Subcontractors seeking partnerships with SDBs to enter new markets
• HBCU/MSI/PWI Presidents, Chancellors, Development Administrators, Researchers, Faculty and Students
• Transportation Stakeholders, Associations, and Organizations

Join us for this one-day pilot program experience. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (ET) and supporting your pathway to success.  

Please register by 09/03/2024

Please note space is limited for this event and may reach capacity prior to registration deadline.