VIA Recognized for Supporting Small- and Minority-Owned Businesses

The Fair Contracting Coalition recognized VIA with its “Red Carpet Award” for the agency’s continued support of the small- and minority-owned business community, and its role in furthering the conversation about creating small business opportunities in San Antonio.

The award was presented at an event on January 4, and draws attention to VIA’s strong support of the FCC, which advocates for business opportunities and contracts for local small- and minority-owned companies. VIA has long been a champion of small business and has maintained one of the highest DBE goals in the nation.

Most recently, VIA completed a three-year project to install 1,000 new bus shelters throughout its service area and raised the number of sheltered boardings to 95 percent. A majority of the work for VIA’s Passenger Amenities Program — 73 percent — was awarded to locally owned businesses and/or certified DBEs/SBEs, in keeping with VIA’s ongoing commitment to support small and minority-owned businesses. The shelter program had a total project cost of $12.4 million. 

"VIA is proud to be recognized for our work to support small business opportunities in San Antonio and the region," VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. "This includes our continued partnership with the FCC and its members, who are longtime advocates and leaders in the business community."

FCC members include KROVFM.com, the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce, Black Contractors Association, Christian Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Contractors Association, Neighborhoods First Alliance, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce, and others.