USDOT is leaving Washington and bringing opportunities for partnerships to small businesses’ front doorsteps in first-ever nationwide tour
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced Department officials are traveling nationwide to host Small Business Matchmaking Summits across America. At the summit, small businesses will have the opportunity to connect with federal decision makers for the opportunity to win contracts and partner in building infrastructure projects that improve the lives of American families. Over 300 small businesses have registered for the kickoff event in Phoenix, Arizona on March 11.
“This Administration cares about what the American people want, not Washington bureaucrats and lobbyists. We’re leaving the swamp to meet with American small business owners who are the backbone of our economy and engaging their expertise to build big, beautiful infrastructure projects,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We invite our mom-and-pop shops to join us in creating transportation projects that improve the lives of American families.”
In Fiscal Year 2025, the Department invested more than $3 billion into small businesses to build safe and efficient infrastructure that will improve the lives of American families.
“Small businesses carry our great nation through its toughest times, and this summit is about fueling that engine for the future,” said U.S. Transportation Department’s Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Allen Gutierrez. “Secretary Duffy is making it easier than ever for our small business champions to compete for infrastructure projects that will generate economic growth and support America for generations.”
The summit will kick off with a high-powered expert panel and a fireside chat featuring contract and information officers from federal agencies to give attendees an inside look at the process. Small business owners will have the ability to connect one-on-one with officials from more than 10 federal agencies-including all nine USDOT subagencies.
Small businesses represent 99.9% of all U.S. businesses and employ more than 62 million Americans. There are more than four million small businesses in the U.S. transportation and warehousing sector.
Additional Information:
Other scheduled tour stops for 2026 include North Carolina and Wisconsin.
Small businesses can register for free and find additional information HERE .