Small business training programs
Classes and opportunities offered
MnDOT offers free classes and opportunities to help certified small businesses. Develop the necessary business skills and expertise to win MnDOT work. Find single classes, session recordings, and hands-on training. Apply for one-to-one mentoring and network with contractors.
DBE Construction Academy
Gain knowledge, training and skills to bid on MnDOT projects, win bids, and perform successfully. DBE Construction Academy classes will help you assess your business, set goals, understand MnDOT contracting processes, and identify best practices.
- Nine comprehensive classes, offered virtually via Microsoft Teams
- Gain confidence and skills to bid and perform on MnDOT projects
Limited Seats! Enroll now
Mock Bid Day: A hands-on estimating workshop for certified small businesses
Participants will gain hands-on experience to compete for and perform on MnDOT projects.
Pre-work required
Estimated time 3 hours. After you register, you will receive links to watch two videos and complete the pre-work to attend the workshop.
In-person, hands-on workshop
Join us for a mock-bid workshop where you will work as a team bidding on a real MnDOT roadway project, offering practical experience in plan reading, estimating, and preparing a bid.
- Read construction plans
- Connect plan drawings to the correct activity specifications
- Estimate line items costs
- Understand quotes from suppliers or other subcontractors
- Enter costs into a bid form
- Identify and complete all post award documents
- Identify pitfalls for bidding a project
Gain a full understanding of the entire bid process, step by step, from project advertisement to bid submission and final award
Date and location
- December 8, 2026
- 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- MnDOT Shoreview Training & Conference Center
1900 County Road I West, Shoreview*
*Note, depending on your map, this may read Arden Hills or North Oaks - Register for Mock Bid Day, Dec. 8 - Seats are limited! Reserve your spot
Questions: Email DBEsupport@drbteam.com, or call 651-461-0267
MnDOT contact: Amy Severson, 651-421-4619
Develop the skills and abilities you need as a business owner in construction with free one-to-one support. Learn from experts such as engineers, architects, accountants, estimators and marketers. Our experts are available to assist you in a variety of areas, including:
- Job costing / bidding and estimating MnDOT scopes of work
- Use of AASHTOWARE and Bid Express
- Change orders / state documentation
- Payroll submission
- Business finances / accounting software
- Implementing a safety program
Eligibility
All Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Targeted Group (TG), Veteran-owned (VO), and Economically Disadvantaged (ED) businesses are eligible to participate.
To schedule a one-to-one session: email DRB Consulting, DBEsupport@drbteam.com, or call 651-461-0267. Sessions may be virtual or in-person depending on your preference.
MnDOT contact: Amy Severson, 651-421-4619
Mentor-Protégé
Prime contractors and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms establish business relationships through mentoring.
- Now accepting applications for the October 2026 - June 2027 program
- Deadline to apply is Oct. 31, 2026
- To apply, complete the business assessment tool and email it to Stacia Rice, or call 952-777-0622
- Watch this short video about Pathways to Success
Pathways to Success is a free program that supports certified small businesses as they navigate bidding on MnDOT projects.
- Personal support: Get one-to-one support with business planning, marketing, and networking.
- Resources and referrals: Receive tailored recommendations for resources and training.
- Duration: The Pathways to Success program runs from October 2026 to June 2027.
For more information:
Contact Stacia Rice, 952-777-0622 to receive the business assessment tool/application in an alternative format or for questions about the application.
MnDOT contact: Jerris Cross, Business Development Coordinator
MnDOT provides meet-and-greets and networking events to support certified small business in establishing and strengthening industry relationships.
- Learn about specific contracts
- Connect with primes and pitch your business
- Connect with other contractors
DBE personal narrative workshop and 1-1 sessions
The Minnesota Unified Certification Program partners offer an online DBE personal narrative workshop, along with one-to-one support, to help Minnesota-based business owners develop their personal narrative required under the DBE Interim Final Rule.
Notice – The information in this video contains information that has since changed based on the DBE Final Rule that was published on Sept. 25, 2026. The final rule clarified:
• Narratives may include personal experiences of race or sex discrimination so long as it’s part of an individualized narrative.
• The comparison of similarly situated individuals should be non-disadvantaged individuals with comparable qualifications.
• An objective basis for social disadvantage should be identified. This may be an objective distinguishing feature or any identifiable status or condition.
Other parts of information in this workshop, such as eliminating group-based presumptions, requiring individualized narratives with evidence, and demonstrating economic harm are consistent with the final rule’s approach.
Visit MnDOT Advancing Equity for opportunities to
- Increase your small business capacity in ADA construction and inspection
- Identify projects in maintenance, professional-technical, and small construction
- Contract for maintenance or small construction projects under $250,000
Visit MnDOT Labor Compliance for training in
- Prevailing wage
- AASHTOWare and CRL
- Certified payroll
- Month-end trucking reports