Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Training programs | Small business training programs

Mentor-Protégé Program

The Mentor-Protégé Program is one of the programs and services provided by OCR Small Business Development in partnership with the Minnesota Unified Certification Program (MnUCP). The program furthers the development of certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms by providing training and assistance from other firms. With mentorship, the small businesses may:

  • Move into nontraditional areas of work
  • Compete in the marketplace outside the DBE program
  • Develop their capacity to compete on projects

Benefits of mentoring

  • Establish a business-to-business relationship. Firms share their expertise and resources to further their business objectives. Doing so creates a stronger economy with a more competitive business environment. 
  • Learn, evolve, and compete on state and city projects and in new markets. Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Airport Commission, Met Council, and the City of Minneapolis are participating agencies.
  • Increase the statewide capacity and availability of DBEs and help develop relationships that foster DBE participation on projects. 
  • Receive credit to partner with DBE firms, and DBEs receive assistance in developing their business.

Types of help provided

Common types of assistance that a mentor may provide a protégé include:

  • Business planning
  • Bidding and estimating
  • Record keeping
  • Technical assistance
  • Capital formation
  • Financial counseling
  • Bonding
  • Equipment use

Mentor-Protégé agreements will vary based on the needs of the businesses involved.

Mentor-Protégé process

  1. Notify MnDOT Business Development staff that you would like to be a mentor.
  2. Complete and submit a mentor application.
  3. Attend a networking session to meet potential protégé.
  4. Select potential protégé.
  5. Arrange brainstorming meeting with protégé.
  6. Outline tasks with selected protégé.
  7. If both parties agree, prepare a draft agreement and a development plan.
  8. Mentor and protégé meet with the Business Development staff.
  9. A draft agreement is forwarded to the certifying agencies of the MnUCP.
  10. The agreement will be revised and finalized per the Business Development staff.

  1. Ensure your DBE Certification is up to date.
  2. Notify MnDOT Business Development staff that you would like to be mentored. 
  3. Complete a protégé application.
  4. Attend a networking session.
  5. If selected, attend brainstorming meetings with potential mentor.
  6. If both parties agree, prepare a draft agreement and development plan.
  7. Mentor and protégé meet with the Business Development staff.
  8. A draft agreement is forwarded to the certifying agencies of the MnUCP.
  9. The agreement will be revised and finalized per the Business Development staff.