Gaining an Advantage

economically or socially," says Tor Ostensen, Lee County Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program coordinator, Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University. Thus, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners has adopted a policy establishing an overall goal for the local DBE's participation in all federal and county procurement projects. The program is committed to providing assistance to Lee County's small-business community in the following areas:

. State and local government certification application assistance.

. Business and technical assistance.

. Procurement assistance.

The principal focus is to improve economic opportunities for the state's women- and minority-owned businesses. Vendors must complete application for certification as a minority business. Only Florida-based businesses are eligible.

One of the many roles of the DBE coordinator is to encourage eligible business owners to become certified and learn about the government bidding process as an opportunity to market and grow their business. The criteria:

. At least 51 percent ownership by persons who are permanent residents of Florida, and who are African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans or non-minority American women.

. Management and control by minority persons performing a useful business function by currently serving customers other than state or local government agencies; operating as a regular dealer of commodities, making sales regularly from goods maintained in stock; and carrying out its responsibility to perform, manage and supervise work.

. A small business enterprise which is independently owned and operated; has a net worth of not more than $5 million; employs 200 or fewer, full time, permanent employees; or if the business had been recognized by the federal government as an 8(a) certified business, which refers to a program that helps small disadvantaged businesses.