Ill. transit agency plans meeting on contracting

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Transportation will host a two-day conference to bring together contractors and disadvantaged business enterprises such as minorities and firms owned by women.

The “Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward” will be Tuesday and Wednesday in Springfield.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will be the keynote speaker Wednesday.

The conference will highlight IDOT services and assistance, workshops, business exhibits, project management, IDOT policies and procedures and networking with prime agency contractors.

Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider says recruiting and retaining qualified minority- and women-owned companies is an agency priority on all its construction projects.