Ohio MBE, EDGE and Veteran-Friendly Certification: Status and What to Do

What it is

The Ohio Department of Development certifies three kinds of firms for state purchasing. Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) compete for set-aside purchases, which the law sets at "approximately fifteen per cent" of the total value of eligible state purchases each year. Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) firms count toward contract participation goals that agencies set by region and industry. Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprises (VBEs) can get preference or bonus points on state and Ohio Department of Transportation bids.

What changed

• March 20, 2025: Senate Bill 154 (135th General Assembly) amended the veteran-friendly business law, R.C. 122.925. The current text says a local government must defer to the state's finding that a certified VBE meets the criteria.
• The Ohio Revised Code site shows no 2025-2026 amendments to the MBE set-aside (R.C. 125.081, last amended 2021) or EDGE (R.C. 122.922, last amended 2021) sections.

Who qualifies

• MBE: owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are Ohio residents and are Black or African American, American Indian, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian. The owners must have owned and controlled the business for at least one year before a set-aside award.
• MBE out-of-state firms: the residency rule means firms with owners who live outside Ohio cannot be certified. Virginia's SBSD also lists Ohio's programs as limited to in-state firms and Ohio residents.
• EDGE: owners must show social disadvantage and economic disadvantage. Social disadvantage can come from a presumption for racial minority group members, from personal disadvantage such as gender or disability, or from a business location in a qualified census tract. Economic disadvantage looks at owner wealth and business size.
• VBE: certification is based on the share of the applicant's employees who are veterans. The detailed cutoffs are in the state's rules, which we could not reach.
• The official pages we reached do not list size limits, fees, certification length or processing time for any of the three.

What it means for your bids

• MBE: agencies pick purchases to set aside so only certified MBEs compete.
• EDGE: agencies set EDGE participation goals on state contracts under R.C. Chapters 123, 125 and 153, based on available contractors by region and industry.
• VBE: certified firms can receive preference or bonus points under the state's rules, and local governments that reward veteran-friendly firms must honor the state certificate.
• The Department posts lists of certified MBE and EDGE providers online.

How to get certified

1. Call the Minority Business Development Division at (800) 848-1300 to confirm the current application process. Our attempts to load the Department of Development's certification pages failed.
2. Check whether you are already listed, and print certification letters, at https://eodreporting.oit.ohio.gov/
3. Keep proof of Ohio residency and one year of ownership and control ready for an MBE application.

Watch out for

• Fee, processing time and renewal rules were not on any official page we could load. Ask the Division before you apply.
• Ohio MBE certification is limited to Ohio-resident owners, so it does not help most out-of-state firms.
• ODOT co-runs the veteran-friendly program for transportation contracts.
• Federal DBE is a separate program.
• Free help: Minority Business Development Division, (800) 848-1300.

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Sources

• codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-125.081
• codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-122.71
• codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-122.921
• codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-122.922
• codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-122.925
• eodreporting.oit.ohio.gov/
• sbsd.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/Documents/ImportantFormsSWaM/Out-of-State-Policy-R

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Status can change quickly with court orders and new laws, so confirm with the program office before you rely on it.