Office of Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business

The Office of Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business (OMWESB) administers the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) and Emerging Small Business (ESB) programs. These programs are designed to promote targeted economic opportunities for small businesses.

As the sole certification authority in Oregon for targeted government contracts for disadvantaged businesses, minority- and woman-owned businesses, and emerging small businesses, OMWESB provides a “one-stop” certification process.

Certifications

The office offers four types of certifications, listed below.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)—Federal
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification is for firms seeking contracting opportunities with recipients of federal transportation-related monies.*
Learn more >>

Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE)—State/local
Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise certification is for firms seeking contracting opportunities with state, county, city and other public jurisdictions.* Learn more >>

Disadvantaged Minority and Women Business Enterprise (DBE/MBE/WBE)—Federal/state/local
Disadvantaged Minority and Women Business Enterprise certification is available to minority and/or woman owner(s) who own at least 51 percent of the business. The business owner must have managerial and operational control over the business and must meet all eligibility requirements for each program. Business income must not exceed the North American Industrial Classification System size standards.*

Emerging Small Business (ESB)–State/local
Emerging Small Business certification is for small businesses seeking contracting opportunities on projects specifically designated for ESB participation.

The ESB program is a race- and gender-neutral program. This program has two tiers.

Tier 1: Program participation is restricted to Oregon-based firms with 19 or fewer employees whose average annual gross receipts over the past three years have not exceeded $1,580,393** for construction firms and $632,157** for non-construction-related firms.

Tier 2: Program participation is restricted to Oregon-based firms with 29 or fewer employees whose average annual gross receipts over the past three years have not exceeded $3,160,787** for construction firms and $1,053,596** for non-construction-related firms.

An ESB must be a properly licensed, legally registered and independently owned Oregon firm.

The average income standard is adjusted annually based on the Portland-Salem consumer price index. Learn more >>

*Specific eligibility requirements for these programs are located at http://www.oregon.gov/OBDD/OMWESB/rules.shtml.

**This is the monetary cap for 2008.

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