Certification

There are many benefits to being SBE and DBE certified.

Expands opportunity to participate on locally and federally funded projects.
Your firm is more attractive to prime contractors needing to fulfill SBE/DBE participation goal requirements.
Listings in official directories used by prime contractors to find subcontractors. The prime comes to you.
You receive opportunity alerts.
Increased opportunity for networking events.
National exposure.
Mentor protege opportunities.

SBE Certification
The RTD Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Certification Program is open to all businesses regardless of race or gender of the owners of the business.

To qualify as an SBE, your business must meet the following qualifications:

The gross receipts of your business (averaged over three years) cannot exceed $20.41 million.
The net worth of your 51% owner(s)/stockholder(s) cannot exceed $750,000 (not counting the market value of their primary residence(s) or their equity/investment in the business you are certifying).

If your business has less than $20.41 million in gross receipts (averaged over three years) AND the 51% owner has a net worth less than $750,000, the business qualifies.

To become an RTD certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), you must complete an SBE Certification Application and Personal Financial Statement. Call the RTD Small Business Opportunity Office at 303-299-2111 to receive one, or:

Download the RTD SBE Certification Application in PDF format. You must also submit a Personal Financial Statement (link below). Applications submitted without the Personal Financial Statement and other supporting documentation will be returned.

Download the Personal Financial Statement in PDF format (to be submitted with the SBE Application).

(Download the free Adobe Reader to view documents in PDF format at www.adobe.com.)

DBE Certification
To qualify as a DBE, your business must meet the following qualifications:

Must be at least 51%-owned by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s) who also controls the firm.
The disadvantaged owner must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States.
Must be a small business that meets the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) size standard and does not exceed $20.41 million in gross annual receipts.
Must be organized as a for-profit business.

To receive a DBE application, call one of the following agencies or use the link to their website below:
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT): (303) 512-4140
Denver Office of Economic Development (OED): (720) 913-1999