Ownership by diverse individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals (i.e. the management and daily operations are controlled by those diverse group members.)
*Ability One: Established as an employment center for blind and/or disabled people
*DBE: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
*HBCU/MI: Historically Black College or University/Minority Institution
*HUBZone: Historically Underutilized Business Zones
LGBTQ: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer Owned
MBE: Minority Business Enterprise
**Minority group members are United States citizens who are Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American.
*SDB: Small Disadvantaged Business
*VBE: Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise
*SDVOSB: Small Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
*VOSB: Veteran-Owned Small Business
WBE: Woman Business Enterprise
*WOSB: Woman-owned Small Business
*Normally used for government contracts.
**For more information please view the Certification Resource (PDF) below.
For more information about business classification definitions and where to get certified:
Certification Resources (PDF)