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What is an MBE?

A minority business enterprise (MBE) is a certified firm that has demonstrated they are a minority group member who is a 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 (i.e. the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members.)

Definition

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, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.

Black : A U.S. citizen who is of African (excluding Northern) descent.

Hispanic: 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).

If the above applies to you and your business, begin the certification process by Applying Here.

The certification fees to be certified by the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council are:

Category Online Amount
Class 1: < $1M $400
Class 2: $1M – $9.99M $650
Class 3: $10M – $49.9M $1,050
Class 4: $50M – above $1,400
Expedited (additional) $350

Late fees are charged to all MBEs certifying at least 1 day after their certification has expired.

Expedite services is a 10 day certification/recertification process once an applicant has completed and submitted the certification/recertification application and all supporting documents.