Minority Business Enterprises

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
A U.S. based business concern (a) which is at least 51 percent owned by minorities, or in the case of any publicly-owned business, at least 51 percent of that business' stock is owned by one or more minorities; and (b) whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the minority individuals who own it. Minority persons include African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Pacific Americans, Asian-Indian Americans, and Native Americans.

Asian-Indian American
A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Asian-Pacific American
A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
African American
A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
Hispanic American
A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only. Brazilians (Afro-Brazilian, indigenous/Indian only) shall be listed under Hispanic designation for review and certification purposes.
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 documented members 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).

Certifying agencies:
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) through the appropriate regional affiliate.