WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — The state admits that it is not meeting its own goals for awarding road-building contracts to minorities. How do minority contractors feel about that?

Henry Richardson said his company, like many minority companies, needs to grow and learn to get in on some of the big state Department of Transportation projects.

"Yes, I have felt from time to time that maybe they could do a bit more, but then I say, 'Well, I've got to do some more as well,'" Richardson said. "We're shooting for that, and we're staying focused on where we want to be."

Manny Marbet supervises the DOT's efforts to funnel more road work to minority businesses. He said there is a multipoint program that helps contractors with everything from planning to personnel development.

"I think it's important for people to, first of all, realize that we do have issues, but I also think it's important for people to realize we're working on those issues," he said. "We're putting these things in place to assist those small businesses who need that little push, that little ummph to get them to that next level and provide them the types of services they need in order to be able to be good competitive contractors."

The state said the way to even the score is to help contractors help themselves.