WASHINGTON — Kenneth Bush, who considers himself a “civic-minded entrepreneur,” is proud that his construction company has grown to support 22 employees and their families.

As one of 12 children of what he called a “dirt poor” Black family, Bush said he worked hard to become the owner of Bush Companies — a Rochester-based business that provides temporary traffic control services at a construction site. He says his flagging company is among the largest of its kind in the state.

Bush has had help in growing his company from a Reagan-administration program that requires state and local transportation departments that receive federal funds to apportion 10% of infrastructure contracts to “disadvantaged” small businesses owned by women and minorities.

But now, the $37 billion Disadvantaged Bu

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