Minority Business Enterprise

 30th Annual Small Business Week, May 20-23, 2013

Visit the Small Business Development Center at Florida A&M for a full schedule of events.

The purpose of the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Directory is to assist prime contractors, the general public and city departments in their efforts to identify minority-owned and disadvantaged businesses.

Visit our Minority Business Directory Online

Minority Business Enterprise Objectives

 The objective of the Minority Business Enterprise department is to remedy the present effects of past discrimination as found in the MBE Fact-Finding Disparity Study, by assisting certified minority businesses with identifying and participating in City of Tallahassee procurement and construction opportunities. The assistance shall be provided until the minority businesses no longer have a need for such assistance as evidenced by their becoming successful mainstream businesses.

The MBE Program shall continue until its objectives are met and shall maintain sufficient flexibility to assure achievement of its purpose while still remaining viable in terms of the needs of the City to transact its business.

Certification
The City of Tallahassee is a partner with the Leon County Minority/Women and Small Business Enterprise Division and now accepts Minority and Women firms certified by Leon County.

Therefore, any MWBE firms within the City of Tallahassee's local market area (Leon, Jefferson, Gadsden, and Wakulla Counties), which are certified by either the City of Tallahassee or Leon County, may be used for participation credit on City of Tallahassee projects. This certification criteria may include, but is not limited to:

  • Documentation of minority status claimed.
  • Documentation of appropriate professional license, certification and/or registrations.
  • City/county business licenses.
  • Bank/Credit Company references
  • Previous year's federal income tax and state sales tax returns.
  • Current financial statement.
  • Copy of Articles of Incorporation/Stock Certificates.
  • Inventory of major equipment.
  • Copies of State of Florida or other MBE certification.
  • Personal Interview/Site Visit.
  • Notarized affidavit attesting to minority status.
  • Copies of Invoices.
  • Business must have a functional operating office in the local market area (Leon, Jefferson, Gadsden or Wakulla counties).
  • Business owner(s) must be a U.S. Citizen.

Please note: Certifications are valid for one year only and must be renewed annually.

MBE Eligibility Standards
An eligible MBE is a business concern, which is both owned and controlled by minorities or by women. This means that minorities or women must own at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the business and they must control the management and daily operations of that business. Consequently, only businesses located within the City of Tallahassee's local market area (Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, or Jefferson counties), and meeting other stipulated criteria, are eligible for MBE participation credit on City of Tallahassee contracts.

  1. Minority Group Membership. Bona Fide minority group membership shall be established on the basis of the individual's documented claim that he or she is a member of an eligible group (Black, Women, or Other) and is a United States citizen. However, the City is not required to accept this claim if it determines the claim to be invalid.
     
  2. Controlled by Minorities or Women. The ownership and control by minorities or women shall be real, substantial and continuing, and shall extend beyond the pro forma ownership of the firm as may be reflected in its ownership documents.
     
  3. Independent Business. An eligible minority business enterprise for this program shall be an independent business. In determining whether a potential MBE is an independent business, the MBE office shall consider all relevant factors, including the date the business was established, the adequacy of its resources for the type of work specified, and the degree to which financial, equipment leasing and other relationships with non-minority firms vary from established industry practice.

    The following applications are in PDF format:

The following are the Minority and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Opportunity and Participation Policies and Participation:

Submit Applications to Economic Development Department, Minority Business Enterprise Office, 300 S. Adams Street-Mailbox A-11, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 or in person at 435 Macomb Street, 3rd Floor, Tallahassee, FL 32301. For more information, please call the Minority Business Enterprise at 850- 891-6500.