Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Minority and Women Business Development Rhonda Harris, Program Director Monica Brede, Certification Specialist

Program Purpose –Provide information to assist small businesses owned by minority and women entrepreneurs. –Provide resources for developing or starting businesses, including technical, financial, business management and procurement information.

Program Services Certification as a DBE, MBE, WBE Registration in the Directory of Minority and Women Owned Businesses Business Education Workshops and Seminars General Business Assistance Networking Opportunities

What Is Certification? Certification is a process that business owners go through to verify that the business is owned, managed and controlled by a minority, woman or disadvantaged person.

Definitions Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) –A business at least 51% owned and controlled by an ethnic minority Women Business Enterprise (WBE) –A business at least 51% owned and controlled by a woman

Definitions Continued Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) -- A business at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged person.

Socially Disadvantaged Presumed Eligible Women Black Americans Hispanic Americans Native Americans Asian Pacific Americans Subcontinent Asian Americans Other minorities found to be disadvantaged by the Small Business Administration

Economically Disadvantaged Net worth can not exceed $1.32million (minus equity in primary residence and ownership interest in the business)

Unified Certification Program Joint Effort with Commerce and KDOT Follow 49 CFR Part 26 Only need to certify with one agency –Unless only MBE/WBE desired

Differences Between the MBE/WBE/DBE Certification Those applying for MBE/WBE Certification do not have to meet a personal net worth requirement. Those applying for DBE Certification will have to meet a personal net worth requirement. –Net worth can not exceed $1.32million (minus equity in primary residence and ownership interest in the business)

Why Should A Business Get Certified? Certified DBE firms are eligible to participate in federally assisted projects or other projects where goals have been established. Certified MBE/WBE firms are eligible to participate where goals have been established. (The State of Kansas, Division of Purchases does not have goals).

DBE Eligibility Criteria The business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged person. Personal Net Worth cannot exceed $1.32 million(Minus home equity & interest in the business). The applicant owner must be a citizen of the U.S. or lawfully admitted as a permanent U.S. resident.

DBE Criteria Continued The firm must meet USDOT size standards, be independent, be viable and for profit. MBE/WBE Criteria Similar to DBE Criteria, except for the personal net worth (PNW) requirement. A PNW condition is not required.

Business Eligibility Viable Business For Profit Independent Small Business

Who Uses DBE/MBE/WBEs? Government Agencies Private Corporations Prime Contractors School Districts

Types of Firms Certified Interior Design Trucking Caterers General Construction Electrical Suppliers Janitorial Service Computer Programmer IT Staffing Engineering

Certification Process Complete Application Submit All Documents Review of Documents Schedule On Site Visit Write Recommendation Application Committee Review Final Decision

What’s Next After Certification? Listing in Directories Self Promotion Annual Reaffirmation Review -Triennial

Directory Listing of Businesses DBE Directory (ksdot.org) –Must be Certified to be listed DBE,MBE and/or WBE Directory (Commerce) –Must be Certified to be listed General Listing of Kansas Minority and Women Owned Businesses (Commerce) – Not Certified

Directory Search Features Company City State County Ethnicity Minority/Woman and/or Disadvantaged Status

Directory Search Features Continued Certified and/or Non-Certified NAICS Code Keyword: Product or Service Description

Other Features Reset Values Export to Excel NAICS Code Reference List Company Details –Company Name –Primary Contact –Title –Address

Other Features Continued P.O. Box City State Zip County Telephone Fax

Other Features Continued Website Certification(s) Ethnicity Business Service Type Primary NAICS Code and Industry (up to 5 listed)

Contact Information (785) KansasCommerce.com