Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons

January 20, 2006

Best Public Entity of the Year

DART honored with Hispanic Chamber Unidos Award

The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GDHCC) is honoring DART for its contribution to the growth of Hispanic businesses in North Texas.

The transit agency is the 2006 recipient of the Chamber's Unidos Award for the best public entity of the year. The award was presented at the GDHCC's annual Partners Appreciation Breakfast.

"It's an honor to be recognized by one of the leading chambers in the nation," said Gary Thomas, president/executive director of DART. "We look forward to many more years of great relationships with the chamber and the Hispanic community and will continue to work hard for increased minority business participation in future DART contracts."

From 2000 through 2004, DART awarded more than $292 million dollars in contracts to minority- and women-owned enterprises - almost 30 percent of its total vendor activity.

The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Unidos Award is the chamber's highest award and is presented annually to the organization that has distinguished itself among corporate and government partners of the Chamber.

DART president/executive director, Gary Thomas, accepts the Unidos Award presented by the GDHCC for best public entity of the year. From left to right: Mark Duebner (City of Dallas), Gary Thomas, Carol Martinez (GDHCC Chair), Nina Vaca (GDHCC Immediate Past Chair).