Diverse Business Classifications

Certification Requirement

An enterprise that is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by minority group members (African- American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native-American, non-minority woman, Veteran, disabled Veteran, or other socially and economically disadvantaged individuals).

Apply as a Diverse Business Supplier

Classifications and Definitions

Diverse vendor classification definitions and preferred certifying agencies:

Community Contracting Market

Community Contracting or Community Market means the geographic market area consisting of Cuyahoga County, Geauga County, Lake County, Lorain County, Medina County, Portage County, Stark County, Summit County and Wayne County

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Business Enterprise (LGBTBE)

A business enterprise majority owned by an LGBT person
Preferred certifying agency: National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)

Local Business Enterprise (LBE)

A business enterprise that has its principal office (headquarters) located physically in the Community Contracting Market and whose highest executive officers and highest-level managers maintain their offices and perform their respective executive and managerial functions and duties in the community contracting market.

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

A business enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is majority owned by minority group members
Preferred certifying agency: State of Ohio, City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

Regional Business Enterprise (RBE)

A business enterprise located within the State of Ohio

Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE)

A business enterprise majority owned by a veteran with a service connected disability
Preferred certifying agency: VETBiz.org

Small Business Enterprise (SBE)

A business enterprise having fewer than 500 employees or the business ownership assets are no more than $750K or it is a qualified 8(a) firm.
SBEs are required to register in the SAMS database (sam.gov), indicate their NAICS code and confirm that they are a “Small Business Concern” or Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE)

A business enterprise majority owned by a veteran
Preferred certifying agency: VETBiz.org, State of Ohio, or City of Cleveland

Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE)

A business enterprise majority owned by one or more women
Preferred certifying agency: Women Business Enterprises Council (WBENC) or one of their 13 chapters across the country, local or state agency

Who Can Participate

We pride ourselves on working with a diverse set of vendors and minority business owners.

For each of the business enterprises listed below, majority ownership is defined as being at least 51 percent owned, operated, managed, and controlled by the individuals making up the business enterprise type.

In the case of publicly-owned businesses, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals.

The principal place of business must be in the United States. Further, majority ownership must include individuals who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Diverse Business Enterprise Ethnicities

African American: ethnic origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa
Asian-Pacific American: ethnic origins in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, or the Northern Mariana Islands
Asian-Indian American: ethnic origins in India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh
Hispanic American/Latino: ethnic origins in any of the Spanish speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin only
Native American: a person who is American Indian, Eskimo, Aleutian or native Hawaiian and regarded as such by the community of which she or he claims membership