About Women First NLC
Women First is a privately-funded, nonpartisan, national grassroots effort that advocates for women-owned small businesses certified in the U.S. Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
A strong supporter and advocate for DBEs, our mission is to promote, protect and leverage the economic, social and political influence of women DBE certified businesses in the U.S.
Currently there are many national associations that include DBE contracting as part their platforms. But until Women First there has not been a national organization solely dedicated to this purpose or one that specifically addresses women in transportation and construction.
Women in this industry have the potential to be a powerful voice. In 2024, there were 44,000 DBEs in highway, transit and airport construction according to the Department of Transportation. With approximately 200,000 people employed, women-owned small businesses are a critical makeup of the transportation construction industry.