The Illinois Department of Transportation will host a series of free virtual workshops, called Building Blocks of Success, for firms interested in participating in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, strengthening their skills and bidding on state projects. The introductory workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. Additional workshop dates and topics are:

• Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to noon: Financial Statements

• Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to noon: Job/Project Costing & Work-in-Progress Schedule

• Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to noon: Budgets

• Dec. 16, 10 a.m. to noon: Contract Compliance Documentation

Future topics covered include financing, QuickBooks training, estimating and bidding, insurance, management, steps needed to be certified as a DBE firm and more. Building Blocks of Success will continue through April. Workshop information, including dates and times, is available through Eventbrite at bit.ly/DBEworkshops. Advance registration is required. Questions can be directed to IDOT’s DBE Resource Center at (312) 939.1100. For more information on becoming a certified DBE and learning more about IDOT resources that are available, visit www.idot.illinois.gov/dbe.