Minority Owned Business Directory

What Qualifies as a Minority Owned Business?

According to the government definition, a minority-owned firm is one that is 51% owned by a U.S. citizen who is:

Black American – United States citizen having origins in any of the Black African racial groups.

Asian-Pacific American – United States citizen whose origins are in Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Republic of Palau), the Northern Mariana Islands, Laos, Kampuchea (Cambodia), Taiwan, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia.

Hispanic American – United States citizen of Spanish culture whose origins are from Mexico, South America, Central America or the Caribbean Island, regardless of race.

Native American – American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiian.

Woman-Owned Business: Is a disadvantage business with at least 51% owned by one or more women, and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more women.

The company can be any size, as long it’s for-profit and physically located in the United States or its territories.

Minority owned businesses are sometimes referred to as an MBE (Minority Owned Business Enterprise). According to the 2002 Census Survey of Business Owners, the number of MBE grew 31% between 1997 and 2002 compared to 13% growth for non-minority businesses. Between 1982 and 2002, there was an 18% increase of Ethnic minorities owned companies in the U.S.

Where can Minority Owned Businesses get Help?

The Minority Business Development Agency (www.mbda.gov) is the only federal agency solely dedicated to the creation, growth and expansion of minority-owned businesses in the United States. As part of the Department of Commerce, the MBDA has established a network of minority business centers and strategic partners who work with entrepreneurs to develop their firms to their full potential.

The MBDA offers a wealth of business planning, start-up and expansion information. In addition, it offers guidance on loans, grants, certifications and other related resources.

More Minority Owned Business Resources Coming Soon!