Prior to January 1, 2024, the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) administered the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification program. Under the former MBE certification process, DOAS automatically issued an MBE certificate to any business certified as a federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the Georgia Department of Transportation or MARTA, provided the business was identified as minority owned.
On January 1, 2024, DOAS launched the Georgia Business Certification Program, in accordance with House Bill 128, signed into law by Governor Brian P. Kemp on April 24, 2023. As a result of this legislation, DOAS’ certification authority has been expanded to include minority-owned, veteran-owned and women-owned businesses. Under the new program, businesses seeking certification must submit their applications directly to DOAS.
ACTION: As part of the transition to our new certification program, all previously certified MBE companies (firms certified DBE prior to January 1, 2024) seeking to maintain state certification through DOAS must reapply under the new application process. The deadline to complete this application and ensure there is no lapse in your existing MBE certification is November 1, 2024.
While certification through the state of Georgia Business Certification Program is not required to maintain federal DBE certification issued by GDOT, there are significant benefits to participating in the Georgia Business Certification Program that you may find valuable.
For more information or to apply for certification, please click here.