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Maryland
Minority Business
Enterprise |
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Maryland
enacted the State Minority
Business Enterprise (MBE)
Program in 1978, which was
the same year the Federal
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
(DBE) Program was enacted.
Federal and State regulations
were developed to provide
additional detail. Businesses
must apply for certification
and provide evidence of
ownership and control by
the minority person(s) as
part of the MBE certification
process. Both the MBE Program
and the Federal DBE Program
are generally referred to
as the MBE Program. Both
Programs are goal based
to achieve a percentage
of MBE participation on
State issued contracts.
A Minority Business Enterprise
(MBE) is a business that
is at least 5l % owned and
controlled by one or more
minority persons. A
minority is generally defined
as an individual who is
African American, Hispanic
American, Asian American,
Native American, a Woman
or a Disabled person. Additionally,
the State also recognizes
non-profit firms that are
organized to promote the
interests of the physically
or mentally disabled. The
Federal Government DBE Program
also includes Alaskan Natives,
Pacific Islanders, Aleuts,
and persons who are not
minorities but who are socially
and economically disadvantaged
in its definition. The socially
and economically disadvantaged
owners must demonstrate
longstanding, chronic and
substantial disadvantage
since the business is not
owned by persons in the
cited minority groups.
Advantages of a Certified
MBE
Certification as a MBE provides
greater exposure for work
opportunities on State projects.
The names of all certified
MBEs appear in the MBE Directory,
a reference manual which
is widely disseminated to
each MDOT administration,
other state departments,
local governments, contractors
and to the public. Contractors
use the MBE Directory as
a basic resource for soliciting
minority participation on
projects. If a firm is not
certified, a contractor
cannot receive credit toward
achievement of the MBE participation
goal by using that firm.
Additional
information on the Maryland
Minority Business Enterprise
(MBE) can be found at: http://www.mdot.state.md.us/MBE_Program/index.html
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