Florence Cox, executive director of Black Contractors United, an organization based in Chicago that provides information, outreach and advocacy on numerous construction related issues, said that an additional, restriction is that stimulus money is devoted to contractors that are certified as a disadvantaged business enterprise. This is a federal regulation that extends to all states whether or not it is subject to project labor agreements. A majority of BCU's members are minority business enterprises or women business enterprises.

"Based upon what our members have told us, in most instances when they compete they are competing as subcontractors in an arena that is dominated by majority White owned companies," said Cox.

In Jackson, Miss., Jacqueline Williams and Renna Fisher, coowners of construction company Fish & Fisher, are seeking a contract with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. But so far they have been making minimal progress.

"I don't know where to begin," said Williams. "We're trying to get information from the Department of Transportation's website, but nothing has been posted yet."

Williams is uncertain whether other Black contractors have reaped a portion of the stimulus when the state has apparently not shown interest in including the Black business community.