Register now for all courses!

107 different certified firms attended last year's academy!

Course dates and objectives are listed when you click on the button above to register.

Registration deadline is one week prior to each course date.

ALL courses are FREE and will be held virtually.

This business development training assists Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in eight key areas taught from the perspective of running a business as an owner:

Select from different course levels: beginner (100 level), intermediate (200 level) and advanced (300 level).

The Art of Bidding and Estimating

This course area is focused on construction. Learn necessary tools for understanding plans and bid preparation.

100. Reading Plans and Specs

101. Basics of Bidding

201. Bid preparation

301. Responding to an RFP

Winning MnDOT Work

Understand project delivery and components of a successful bid. Learn valuable lessons from MnDOT Experts and Prime contractors.

102. Positioning Your Company

202. Preparing the Tools

302. A Successful Submittal

Becoming Successful

Gain an understanding of the key components of running a business, including the transitional phase from the DBE program. Review and identify operational components, strategies and goals.

103. Running a business

203. Implementing Operations Strategies

303. Sustainability

Making Money

Learn accounting practices, evaluate financial position, and generate projections for your business.

104. Accounting Fundamentals Part I

204. Accounting Fundamentals Part II

304. Maximizing Profit

Mastering QuickBooks

Gain an understanding of QuickBooks and how to create your financials.

205. Accounting with QuickBooks

Building a Viable Business

Examine cashflow forecasting and develop required tools to understand workflows and critical paths.

106. Break-even Analysis

206. Cashflow and Workflow Forecast

Staying Out of Trouble

Become familiar with construction industry legal components and ramifications. Gain an understanding of business laws, bonds, reducing liabilities and legal components of a MnDOT Contract.

107. Prevention

207. Contract Protection

307. Construction Law and Contracts

Strategic Visibility

Gain an understanding of different marketing strategies. Learn how to create a marketing plan, set goals and analyze the value of your marketing strategy to attract new business.

108. Value of Marketing

208. Integrating Marketing Strategies

308. Action Plan