You Down with MWBE? Yeah You Know Me: A Summary of the MBE, WBE, and DBE Programs in the State of Missouri

The State of Missouri and Missouri municipalities want to encourage minority and women owned businesses in their communities. The governments have created formalized programs to utilize these businesses. The purpose of these programs is to increase participation of women, minority, and other historically disadvantaged businesses in government related contracts. To bid upon or enter into government related contracts, minority, women, and other historically disadvantaged groups must apply for and receive program certification by different government entities.

The certification application and process can be confusing, time consuming, and costly. But with guidance, can be navigated and be beneficial to minority and women business owners. This article examines the women’s business enterprise and minority owned business enterprise programs available within the State of Missouri. This article identifies and describes the primary programs available to women, minority, and other historically disadvantaged groups administered by the State of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area and the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area, and outlines their application processes.

The federal certification programs are also outlined.