The state Board of Public Works, which approves billions in state contracts and grants, appears ready to adopt a policy that will require some minority business participation in any private construction project that receives state funding.

Two of the three board members, Gov. Martin O?Malley and Comptroller Peter Franchot, were set to approve such a policy at Wednesday?s meeting after Arnold Jolivet, the head of the Maryland Minority Contractors Association, protested a contract in which “only non-minority [firms] were invited to bid.”