JEFFERSON CITY — A special division within the Missouri Department of Transportation will help women- and minority-owned businesses get involved in state construction projects.
The department has created the External Civil Rights division to oversee and expand affirmative action, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination programs. One of the goals for the new division is to develop pre-apprentice and on-the-job training programs.
The training programs have increased diversity among workers on the Interstate 64 reconstruction project in St. Louis and a bridge project in Kansas City.
External Civil Rights division Director Lester Woods says the new unit will help MoDOT deliver better projects with a more diverse work force.