Section 10.40  Program Eligibility

a)         Businesses owned and controlled by individuals in the following eligible groups may submit applications for certification:

1)         African American – a person having origins in any of the black racial groups in Africa.

2)         Hispanic – a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central American or the Caribbean (regardless of race).

3)         American Indian or Alaskan Native – a person having origins in any of the original people of North America.

4)         Asian American – a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent or the Pacific Islands.

5)         Female – a person who is a citizen or lawful, permanent resident of the United States, and who is of the female gender.

6)         Person with a disability.

b)         MBE, FBE and PBE refer to for-profit enterprises regardless of form of organization (sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation).  However, not-for-profit entities that meet the definition of a sheltered workshop for the disabled in accordance with Section 45-35 of the Illinois Procurement Code [30 ILCS 500] will also be classified as PBE.