OBD&EO

Business Classifications

Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

A Minority Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) is a business that has its day-to-day operations at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more minority persons.

A minority is generally defined as an individual who is African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, or Native American.

Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

A Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) is a business that is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more women.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are for-profit small business concerns where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and also control management and daily business operations.

African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian Americans, and women are presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged. Other individuals can also qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis.

Small-Owned Business Enterprise (SBE)

A Small Owned Business Enterprise (SBE) is a business which:

  1. is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned by one or more persons
  2. the owner has a personal net worth less than 750,000 a year
  3. is located within the metropolitan statistical area and finally
  4. has been in business a minimum of 1 year

Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VOB)

A Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (VOB) is a defined as a business that has no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans rated as service-disabled by the Veterans Administration.

A veteran is a person who has served on active duty with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard for any length of time and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.