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Mission Statement

At DBEs of America, our mission is to foster collaboration and unity within the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) community. We are dedicated to advocating for the preservation of DBE programs, ensuring protection of America’s founding principles of free market and capitalism which are integral to our country’s economic development and growth. Through strategic partnerships, education, and advocacy, we strive to empower DBEs to thrive in a competitive marketplace, driving economic growth and social equity.

  • A "DBE," or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, is a small, for-profit business where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least 51% and manage daily operations. It's a label mainly in government contracting for federally funded transportation projects. DBE’s represent thousands of businesses throughout America.

  • Why? To level the playing field and give small, disadvantaged businesses a fair shot at winning contracts they might otherwise miss out on. It's about opportunities, not handouts.

  • On September 23, 2024, a Federal Judge in the State of Kentucky issued a preliminary injunction on behalf of two Non-DBE Businesses against the US Department of Transportation (DOT) DBE Program citing that the use of race and gender in administering the DBE program was unconstitutional. As a result, the US DOT was required to set the DBE participation goals to “zero percent” (0%), in essence removing the opportunity for Certified DBEs to be able to pursue work. At the time, the injunction covered projects administered through the US DOT programs in the states of Kentucky and Indiana. But DBE programs throughout the country could be at risk.

    1. Alabama

    2. Arkansas

    3. Delaware

    4. District of Columbia

    5. Florida

    6. Georgia

    7. Illinois

    8. Indiana

    9. Iowa

    10. Kansas

    11. Kentucky

    12. Louisiana

    13. Michigan

    14. Minnesota

    15. Mississippi

    16. Missouri

    17. New Jersey

    18. North Carolina

    19. Ohio

    20. Oklahoma

    21. Pennsylvania

    22. South Carolina

    23. Tennessee

    24. Texas

    25. Virginia

    26. West Virginia 

  • Without the DBE Program, we expect hundreds if not thousands of businesses will shut their doors. DBE, MBE, WBE or any business that claims a disadvantage could soon be faced with losing their company, in most cases the businesses that they have spent years to develop and build, a business that supports their family and the families of their employees. This will not only impact the DBE business community, but also the economy within cities and states.

  • To rescind or stay the injunction, we will hire a law firm to represent us, to seek out options to overturn or suspend this injunction that would allow DBEs to continue to operate under the DBE Program providing opportunity to secure work.

    • Contribute to our legal fund to support the necessary legal representation in court.

    • Help spread awareness to all DBEs, MBEs and WBEs.

    • We need local, state and federal legislators to take action to help protect the DBE program and our certification status.

    Please work with us, we need your help. Visit our Contact page and let us know how you would like to get involved.