What is a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)?
A MBE means a minority business enterprise is a business that is a continuing, independent, for profit business which performs a commercially useful function and is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more minority individuals who are impeded from normal entry into the economic mainstream because of past practices of discrimination based on race or ethnic background. A minority is generally defined as an individual who is African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Native American.
To be 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. Additionally, non-profit firms that are organized to promote the interests of the physicially or mentally disabled also are eligible for MBE certification. Under current State law, an individual is presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged if that individual belongs to one of the following groups: African-American; Hispanic-American; Asian-American; Native-American; Women; or Disabled Persons, who are not members of one of the above groups, also may be eligible if they own and control their business and establish their social and economic disadvantage. A determination of whether an individual meets MBE eligibility criteria is made on a case-by-case basis.
