Note from Angela
Greetings Kansas DBEs,
Happy Spooky season! 👻
One of the news items we’re sharing below is about apprenticeships in the construction industry. During our in-person Bonding Education Program (BEP) session in September, one of our topics of conversation was how to recruit employees and grow the workforce. So, our questions for you:
How are you supporting your employees?
How are you recruiting new employees?
Is this a topic of conversation that would be helpful for us to dive into at the beginning of 2025?
Please send any feedback or thoughts on this topic (including if you would like to participate in a session in person or online) and any other topics you’d like to see in an email to us.
Ubuntu!
Angela
Angela Motsinger
KDOT DBE Supportive Services
We want to hear from you!
We want to feature you and your business in these newsletters! Example of last year’s DBE Spotlight include Nicolle with J&J Contractors and Cesar with S & S Rock Crushing. If you’re interested in answering a quick Q&A and providing a few photos, please email Bailey.
Also, we love to celebrate good DBE news! Email a link or short description to info@motsingercpa.com so that we can add it to a future newsletter.
Dates & Deadlines
October 20
KDOT Bid Letting
News
KDOT Awarded Nearly $98M for I-35, Santa Fe Corridor Project in Olathe
Governor Laura Kelly announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has awarded the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) a nearly $98 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to improve the I35 and Santa Fe Street corridor in Olathe.
“This announcement is a win for Kansas and everyone who travels I-35 through Olathe,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This project represents my administration’s work to modernize and strengthen the infrastructure and transportation links that support commerce and economic growth across the state.”
The I-35 Santa Fe Forward project, which targets one of the region’s most congested corridors, seeks to eliminate bottlenecks at two interchanges: Santa Fe Street and Old Highway 56, address access management issues on Santa Fe Street, replace aging infrastructure, and provide multimodal access across I-35 to connect communities on both sides of the interstate. Currently, the crash rate on I-35 surrounding the Santa Fe interchange is more than two and half times the state’s average, with nearly half of all crashes consisting of rear-end crashes at lower rates of speed. Read more here.
Apprenticeships help workers see construction as their first choice
John Mielke started his career as apprenticeship coordinator for Associated Builders and Contractors in Wisconsin.
Now, after 32 years with the group’s Badger State chapter, including 12 years as president, Mielke is once again turning to promoting apprenticeships, but on a national scale. ABC named Mielke the senior director of apprenticeship on Oct. 7.
The appointment comes at a time when construction’s high demand for skilled trades continues to be a thorn in contractors’ sides, especially as they seek to deliver on a historic amount of infrastructure work.
Here, Mielke talks with Construction Dive about the value of registered apprenticeships, plans for the future and his view of the emerging workforce. Read the interview here.
