In 1987, the General Assembly enacted legislation to create an MBE Program to encourage minority-owned firms to participate in the State procurement process. Current MBE law requires agencies to structure their procurements to try to achieve an overall minimum goal of 25% of the total dollar value of their procurement contracts directly or indirectly from certified MBE firms. More...
To become eligible for certification as an MBE firm, a business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. If an individual belongs to one of the following groups, African –American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native-American, Women or Disabled, he or she is presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged under current State law. The criteria for MBE eligibility is made on a case-by-case basis.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) DBE Program provides a vehicle for increasing the participation by certified DBE firms in State and local procurements that are funded with assistance from the USDOT.
To become eligible for certification as a DBE, a business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s). If an individual belongs to one of the following groups, Women, African-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American, Asian-Pacific American and Sub-continent Asian-Pacific American, he or she is presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged under Federal law. The criteria for DBE eligibility is made on a case-by-case basis.
