Classification Definitions

MBE

Minority Business Enterprise. A minority-owned business is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by minority group members. "Minority group members" are United States citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American. Ownership by minority 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: further, the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members.

Asian-Indian

A U.S. Citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Asian-Pacific

A U.S. Citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacigic or the Northern Marianas.

Black and/or African American

A U.S. Citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.

Hispanic

A U.S. Citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, SouthAmerica and the Caribbean Basin only.

Native-American

A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be a documented member of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).
Source: www.nmsdcus.org

WBE

Women Business Enterprise. A Female U.S. Citizen or a female with U.S. Resident Alien Status. Fifty-one percent ownership must be by a woman or group of women. Proof of effective management of the business (operating positions, by-laws, hire-fire and other decision making roles) must be held by a woman or group of women. In addition a woman, or group of women, must have control of the business as evidenced by signtaure roles on loans, leases and contracts.
Source: www.wbenc.com/pages/criteria.asp

SBA

A business concern eligible for assistance from SBA as a small business is one that is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States. It must operate primarily within the United States or make a significant contribution to the U.S. Economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor. Together with its affiliates, it must meet the numerical size standards as defined in the Small Business Regulations, 13 CFR 121. The applicant firm must be a small business, must be unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of the United States, and must demonstrate potential for success.

HUBZONE

A concern must be determined to be a "qualified HUBZONE small business conern". A firm can be found to be a qualified HUBZONE concern if it is small, it is located in a "historically underutilized business zone", it is owned and controlled by one or more U.S. Citizens and at least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZONE.
Source: www.sba.gov/contracting/government-contracting-programs/hubzone-program

DVBE

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise. Must be at least 51% owned by one or more disabled veterans. Daily operations must be managed and controlled by one or more disabled veterans (the disabled veteran(s) who manages and controls the business is not required to be the disabled veteran business owner(s)); and your home office must be located in the U.S. (the home office can not be a branch or subsidiary of a foreign corporation, foreign firm, or other foreign based business). Certification requires that the "disabled verteran" is a veteran of the U.S. Military, naval or air service and has a service-connected disability of at least 10% or more.