MBE Program Description

Program Description MBE

Interested in our ​Minority Busine​ss Enterprise (MBE) certification? You've come to the right page!

Our MBE Program ha​s​​ 4 major steps:​

1. Eligibility-- Are you eli​gible for an MBE certification?

2. Certification-- What do you need to do to apply for certification?

3. Annual Up​date-- Afte​r becoming certified, what do I need to do every year to keep my certification active?

4. Recertif​ication-- After three years, how do I r​ecertify?

Visit the pages on the left to find out more information! 

​​​​

​If you have any questions, send us an email at SupplierDiversity@wi.gov. ​​





Historytitle.png

The Minority-Owned Business ​Enterprise (MBE) Program was the first diverse business certification program for the State of Wisconsin. It was created in 1983 when the Wisconsin Legislature passed Wisconsin Act 390 that set a 5% participation goal for State Agencies and University of Wisconsin Campuses for purchases of goods and services with certified MBEs. Act 390 also established a permissive 5% bid preference for certified MBE firms responding to bids for State contracts.​

The MBE Program was originally housed in the now disbanded Department of Commerce. In 2011 the MBE Program moved to the Department of Administration under what is now known as the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program.

​Businesses, who are certified as MBE, are at least 51% owned, controlled, and actively managed by an identified racial or ethnic minority and serve a useful business function. The MBE Certification Program is governed by §​ 16.287,​ Wis. Stats. and Admin. Code 84​.​