California Hosts Symposium to Connect Small Businesses With Billions of Dollars in Contracts        

Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation  (CBM) – Despite the state’s looming budget deficit, Toks Omishakin, California Secretary of Transportation, shared some upbeat news during the first-ever Small Business Symposium held virtually on June 5. Omishakin said the “sun is shining on us” referring to small business owners and the commitment of the state and federal governments to continue making investments in the sector to expand opportunities. “The state budget has challenges. Nevertheless, this is still the most fruitful period of transportation investments in California and America,” the Omishakin said. “It’s time for us to take advantage of the fact that we have the policies and the funding to help small businesses in the state.”& So far, the state has received over $42 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds from the Biden Administration in almost three years, including more than $29 billion for transportation-related projects. Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate State officials, including Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, other stakeholders, and over 400 other participants attended the three-hour webinar. Recent transportation-focused infusions of cash...