MBE, WBE, AND VBE/SDVBE Programs
MBE & WBE Program
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) - A Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is a small business that is primarily owned, controlled, and managed by one or more individuals who are economically disadvantaged and who belong to a minority group. A Women Business Enterprise (WBE) is a small business that is primarily owned, controlled, and managed by one or more individuals who are economically disadvantaged and who are women.
For a business to qualify as an MBE or WBE in Rhode Island, at least 51% of the business must be owned by one or more individuals who meet the following criteria:
Control: The MBE/WBE owner(s) must control the day-to-day operations of the business and have decision-making authority. Further, their ownership of the business must be “real, substantial, and continuous.” See 220-RICR-80-10-1.7(A).
Economic Disadvantage: An MBE/WBE owner’s personal net worth cannot exceed $1,320,000. See 49 CFR 26.67(a)(2)(i) (October 2014).
Membership in a Minority Group: The State of Rhode Island defines a member of a minority as an individual who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident, who belongs to one of the racial or ethnic groups listed below. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 37-14.1-3(e). Note that women do not need to belong to a minority group in order to apply for WBE certification.
| Category | Definitions |
|---|---|
| Black | All persons having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. |
| Hispanic | All persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America. |
| Asian American | All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands. |
| Portuguese | All persons of Portuguese, Brazilian or other Portuguese culture or origin regardless of race. |
| Disadvantaged | Members of other groups or other individuals found to be economically and socially disadvantaged by the Small Business Administration under § 8(a) of the Small Business Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 637(a). |
Eligibility
To become certified as an MBE, WBE, DBE or VBE in Rhode Island, you must submit an application to the Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEDI). A member of DEDI’s staff will review your application and contact you to schedule a site visit. This process generally takes up to ninety (90) days.
Businesses outside of Rhode Island are welcome to apply for MBE or WBE certification, but the firms must be certified in their home state to qualify.
In contrast, DBE/ACDBE (Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification programs for minority businesses that participate in solicitations are funded in whole or in part with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation. If your firm is certified as a DBE/ACDBE in your home state, please submit a Declaration of Eligibility, an Interstate DBE/ACDBE Certification Request Form and, if operating in a licensed industry, a copy of your valid RI business license.
How to Submit Your MBE/WBE Application or Declaration of Eligibility (DOE)
All applications and supporting documents must be submitted through the Secure Mail portal as a compressed ZIP file (maximum file size: 25MB).
Submit your materials to Secure Mail Portal
To use the Secure Mail portal, you must first create an account. Click here for instructions on how to register and submit your documents.
If your application file exceeds 25MB, you may send multiple ZIP files in separate Secure Mail messages.
Email Subject Line Requirements
To help us process your submission efficiently, please follow the subject line formats below:
- New Applications:
Include your business name, the certification you are applying for, and “Certification Application.”
Examples:- ABC Inc. MBE/WBE Annual DOE
- XYZ LLC WBE Annual DOE
Include your business name, the certification you currently hold, and “Annual DOE.”
Examples:
• ABC Inc. MBE/WBE Annual DOE
• XYZ LLC WBE Annual DOE
VBE & SDVBE Program
A Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) is a business that is primarily owned, controlled, and managed by individuals who are Veterans.
Eligibility
A small business concern which is at least fifty-one percent (51%) owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged veterans or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the stock of which is owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged veterans; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by more or more such individuals.
To apply for VBE & SDVBE certification, businesses must be owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged veterans.
How to Submit Your VBE & SDVBE Application or Annual Update
All applications and supporting documents must be submitted through the Secure Mail portal as a compressed ZIP file (maximum file size: 25MB).
Submit your materials to Secure Mail Portal
To use the Secure Mail portal, you must first create an account. Click here for instructions on how to register and submit your documents.
If your application file exceeds 25MB, you may send multiple ZIP files in separate Secure Mail messages.
Email Subject Line Requirements
To help us process your submission efficiently, please follow the subject line formats below:
- New Applications:
Include your business name, the certification you are applying for, and “Certification Application.”
Examples:- ABC Inc. VBE/SDVBE Certification Application
- XYZ LLC VBE Certification Application
- Include your business name, the certification you currently hold, and “Annual DOE.”
Examples:
- ABC Inc. VBE/SDVBE Annual DOE
- XYZ LLC VBE Annual DOE