Amalie Arena

EBO Business Certification Criteria Information

In order to qualify for certification, an applicant must successfully document, demonstrate and comply with the following:

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is one that is at least 51% owned by one of the minority groups identified below who also control and operate the business and are permanent residents of the State of Florida. The business must have a permanent, functioning office within the State of Florida and be lawfully licensed within the relevant jurisdiction.

Minority classifications are:

  • African American - a person (male or female) having origins in any of the indigenous racial groups of Africa.
  • Hispanic American - a person (male or female) of Spanish or Portuguese heritage with origins in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, South America, Central America or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race.
  • Asian American - a person (male or female) having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent, or Pacific Islands including the Hawaiian Islands.
  • Native American - a person (male or female) who has origins in any of the Indian Tribes of North America.

Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) is one that:

  • Is at least 51% owned by a Caucasian Female or females, who also
    • Control and operate the business and
    • Are permanent residents of the State of Florida
  • Has a permanent, functioning office within the State of Florida
  • Is lawfully licensed within its relevant jurisdiction.

Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) is one that:

  • Has 25 or fewer permanent fulltime employees
  • Has gross revenue averaged for the past three years that does not exceed $2 million
  • Is located in the Tampa Market Area (Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas or Manatee County)
  • Is owned by individual(s) who are all permanent residents of the State of Florida
  • Is without regard to ethnicity and gender
  • Is independently owned and operated

All Firms Must Meet These General Requirements:

Any SLBE, MBE, or WBE must have -

  • Operated as such for ONE YEAR prior to application in order to be eligible to apply for certification
  • Been operating independently of other firms
  • A permanent, functioning office within the state of Florida that is lawfully licensed within the relevant jurisdiction (includes foreign registered corporations)