DBE Certifications in Arkansas

The State of Arkansas Act 1080 mandates equal opportunity as well as economic development in every sector, ensuring that 15% of the total amount expended in state-funded and state-directed public construction programs and in the purchase of goods and services for the state each fiscal year is paid to minority businesses. Two percent (2%) allocated for service-disabled veteran-owned minority business enterprises; and eight percent (8%) for all other minority business enterprises; andFive percent (5%) for women-owned business enterprises.

Statewide Certification Programs

Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (Mwbe) Certification

Increase the opportunity for your minority or women-owned business to sell products and services to the State of Arkansas. The Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification program is a review process designed to ensure that a minority or women-owned business is actually owned, controlled and operated by the applicants and meets the eligibility criteria of the program. In addition to increasing opportunities with the State of Arkansas, certification benefits include notification of training events, workshops, network opportunities and educational opportunities. Certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises will receive an official certificate and designation as a “Certified Minority and Women-Owned Business” in the Directory.

Qualifications:

  • Women-owned business, minority-owned business

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DOT Equal Employment Opportunity & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
Assuring that the Department follows its policy of equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, and disability.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

ADFA (in conjunction with Levi Strauss Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation) has created a program to provide working loan guaranty capital to minority businesses who cannot otherwise finance their working capital needs. In 2014, ADFA entered into a partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) that provided the AEDC Minority Business Loan Program with access to ADFA DBE guaranty reserve funds. This was done to provide additional and more efficient support to minority-owned business in the State of Arkansas. Individuals or businesses seeking to take advantage of the ADFA DBE program should inquire about the AEDC Minority Loan Business Loan Program

Local and Regional Programs

Clinton National Airport DBE Program

Clinton National Airport is committed to increasing opportunities for disadvantaged, small, minority and women-owned businesses. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program plays a very important role in this objective. The program is funded by the United States Department of Transportation and administered by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. It seeks to eliminate discrimination in awarding federally-assisted business contracts and assist the development of businesses that can go on to compete in the marketplace outside the DBE program.

How to apply:
We have on-site staff to assist first time applicants with the certification process as well as answer any question and concerns you may have. For more information regarding LIT’s DBE Program or DBE requirements contact Leonard Smith or Kim Hubbard at 501-372-3439.