Diversity and Strategic Development

 

The Illinois Tollway Department of Diversity and Strategic Development is a driving force for increasing economic opportunities in the diverse communities we serve.

Inclusion is the Foundation of Everything We Do

As an economic engine for the region, the Tollway provides small, diverse and veteran businesses and individuals with opportunities to grow and succeed through our training programs, strategic partnerships and investments in infrastructure.

 

Diversity Programs

 

Need Business Assistance?

Technical Assistance Program

The Illinois Tollway Technical Assistance Program is designed to prepare emerging and established transportation-related construction and professional engineering services firms, including small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses to participate on highway and vertical construction contracts.

 

 

 

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Partnering for Growth

The Illinois Tollway’s Partnering for Growth (P4G) Program encourages prime consultants and contractors to assist disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business enterprise (D/M/WBE) firms and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) in remaining self-sufficient, competitive and profitable businesses. Under the P4G for Professional Services, the protégé works on a specific Tollway contract with the mentor. 

 

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Small Business Initiative

The Illinois Tollway Small Business Initiative is a race- and gender- neutral program intended to increase opportunities for small construction companies to participate on Tollway construction contracts. The Tollway also unbundles larger contracts into several smaller jobs defining small contract opportunities in amounts generally under $5 million. 

 

 

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Looking For A Career?

ConstructionWorks

The Tollway has partnered with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership to launch ConstructionWorks, an innovative program to create a qualified pipeline of diverse men and women ready to enter careers in the heavy highway and related construction industry.

 

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Earned Credit Program

The Illinois Tollway’s Earned Credit Program provides opportunities for historically underrepresented segments of the heavy highway construction workforce.

 

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Want A Competitive Edge?

Bid Credit Incentives Programs

Illinois Tollway offers contractors and subcontractors the opportunity to earn bid credits by participating in select construction assistance programs. Bid credits may be used toward future Tollway construction bids to lower their bid amount and increase the chances of winning the contract as the low bidder.

Current Bid Credit Incentive Programs:

Read the Special Provision for Bid Credit Incentive Programs.

Marketing Edge for Subcontractors

Prime contractors have an additional incentive for teaming with subcontractors that participate in incentive programs: subcontractor-earned bid credits can be added to a prime contractor's bid in order to increase the chances of the team winning a contract as the low bidder as long as the prime also submits bid credits with the bid.

Strategic leadership

Diversity And Inclusion Committee (D&I)

The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors established the D&I Committee to allow the Board to focus on diversity issues and policies, create access to sustainable jobs and foster increased opportunities for firms of all sizes and types. The Committee is composed of members of the Tollway Board and strives to increase participation of diverse and veteran-owned firms and individuals on Tollway contracts.

View Committee presentations

View Committee meeting schedule

 

Diversity Advisory Council (DAC)

The DAC was created to gain outside perspectives and assist the Tollway in building upon its established foundation of inclusion. The Council is composed of representatives from nearly 30 advocacy agencies, each with a long history of assisting small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses, as well as individuals seeking workforce assistance and training. The Council includes two subcommittees that allow members to focus on specific areas of interest or expertise:

  • Policy & Programs Subcommittee – reviews Tollway policies and Diversity programs to recommend improvements or develop new policies that address disparities and eliminate barriers to participation
  • Workforce Subcommittee – examines existing workforce development programs to recommend improvements and develop new initiatives.

View the DAC policies and procedures

View the DAC member list

View the most recent DAC meeting presentation

Diversity Advisory Council Meetings

Diversity Advisory Council
March 18, 2024, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Illinois Tollway, Central Administration building, 2700 Ogden Avenue., Downers Grove, IL

Policy and Programs Subcommittee
Late spring/early summer

Workforce Diversity Subcommittee
Late spring/early summer
 

 

Reports

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Outreach and Networking Events

The Tollway sponsors and participates in outreach and networking events throughout the year. To include the Tollway in any of your events fill out the Speaker Request Form found here.
 

Illinois Tollway's Calendars