CTA's Jarrett hails minority progress

Speaking to the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition International Trade Bureau, CTA Chairman Valerie Jarrett hailed both the minority programs that have helped empower small businesses and the improved level of service to its customers.

Jarrett agreed with the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. who recently said America is currently "in the fourth stage of the Civil Rights Movement--access to capital and economic equity for all."

"He has proven his commitment to these ideals through the establishment of the International Trade Bureau and the National Wall Street Project - both of which foster the development and promote the skills of minority and women-owned businesses," said Jarrett.

These objectives are also at the heart of the CTA's Business Development Program (BDP), which seeks to increase the pool of minority and women-owned businesses qualified to bid on CTA contracts.

Explaining the opportunities of this program, Jarrett said the BDP provides minority and women-owned businesses the tools needed to become competitive, especially among the mainstream, larger companies in their industries.

Participants, Jarrett explained, receive business assistance in one or more of five developmental areas: Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management, and Information Systems.

She explained that the program provides business assessments, assists in preparing business plans, identifies technical assistance needs and providers, and holds business development workshops.

According to Jarrett, in the first year, 112 DBEs requested BDP assistance. "The program is successfully increasing the pool of contractors qualified to bid on CTA contracts," said Jarrett. In 2001 prior to BDP participation, Jarrett said 25 firms received 202 contracts, totaling $2,977,285.

In 2002, with BDP participation, Jarrett said those same 25 firms, received 249 contracts, totaling $13,010,369 and that is a dollar increase of $10,033,084 or 337 percent and an increase in the number of contracts of 47 or 23 percent.

Making it clear, Jarrett added: "The CTA has the power to make a difference in the economic development arena.

According to Jarrett, in an average year, the CTA awards 12,600 contracts that range from $10,000 to $300 million. She told the PUSH business group: "Given our current level of funding, there is great opportunity for the businesses in this community. The CTA operates the nation's second largest public transportation system and covers the City of Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs." On an average weekday, 1.5 million rides are taken on the CTA. The CTA has 2,008 buses that operate over 143 routes and more than 2,200 route miles. Its 1,190 rapid transit cars operate over seven routes and 222 miles of track. "Chicago is one of the few cities in the world that provides rapid transit service to two major airports," said Jarrett.

The CTA has 12,305 employees making us one of the largest employers in Chicago, according to Jarrett.

Saying the CTA has experienced resurgence in ridership, Jarrett said after 15 years of steady declines, CTA ridership has increased each of the last five years making it one of only five major transit agencies in the country expected to post such an achievement.

Photograph (Valerie Jarrett)