MoDOT is committed to employing a workforce that reflects the state’s diversity. Recently, we took an important step toward increasing the diversity of the workers on transportation construction projects across the state.

In February, MoDOT hired Julie Cunningham, president of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), to facilitate discussions with partners in St. Louis about workforce diversity related to transportation construction projects. Together the group identified its concerns and established a plan for increased workforce diversity.

Representatives from several local groups came to the table including the two contractor teams competing for the I-64 project, local construction and trade unions and community-based organizations including Metropolitan Congregations United, MOKAN, Pride, SLATE and many others.

The talks concluded successfully in May, when both parties signed a partnering agreement at a ceremony in St. Louis pledging to work together towards a workforce utilization plan for The New I-64 project. The plan focuses on training and employing minority, female and economically disadvantaged individuals on the I-64 project.

“It is a new day for MoDOT, the community and the heavy highway construction industry. We hope this workforce utilization process will become a model for other states,” said Lester Woods, MoDOT external civil rights administrator. “Growing the workforce is a complicated task that cannot be solved by one entity. With everyone working together and doing our individual roles in this process, we will see more trained minority and female workers.”

The agreement aims to use a portion of the I-64 project dollars as an incentive for the I-64 contractor, who will be selected by the end of the year, to hire diverse individuals to work on the project.  It also establishes an advisory committee that will recommend training and employment programs to receive funding from MoDOT.

Furthermore, the contractors and community-based organizations pledged to be diligent and work proactively to increase the diversity of the workforce.