The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting free virtual workshops in January as part of its continuing Building Blocks of Success series for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms interested in strengthening their skills, growing their business and bidding on state projects. New and existing DBEs, as well as firms interested in becoming certified in the program are invited. January workshop dates and topics are:

• Jan. 10, 10 a.m. to noon: Basic Math for Estimating & Bidding Part 1

• Jan. 12, 10 a.m. to noon: Basic Math for Estimating & Bidding Part 2Jan. 17, 10 a.m. to noon: Basic Math for Estimating & Bidding Part 3

• Jan. 19, 10 a.m. to noon: Basic Plan Review

• Jan. 24, 10 a.m. to noon: Marketing and Networking

• Jan. 31, 10 a.m. to noon: IDOT EPAS System – SOIs

Future topics covered will include Excel estimating and bidding spreadsheet, bidding on the IDOT website, contracts, 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.