Publisher’s Note: Clarity but no victory Black Womcn can apply for FBE
Certification
By Ronda Barber
I met with the City of Columbus Equal Business Opportunity Director Melinda Carter recently. We discussed our wonderful children, the Ohio University Bobcat Football team and the City of Columbus’ Female Business Enterprise certification. I am thankful that she took time out of her busy day to have a meaningful conversation on a variety of issues that impact minority and women owned businesses. The conversation provided clarity to an important issue that I have been advocating for in OhioMBE.
On the application, the City gives the definition of a minority and a female owned business. The Minority Business Enterprise certification is for African Americans. The FBE certification is for all women except African American women. All other women of color are able to select their gender over their race. I strongly contend that lack of access is lack of opportunity. This is an economic issue. If a Black woman was seeking an FBE certification, she was forced to pay a private organization an application fee of $400 or more to gain FBE status. All other women were able get have access to Columbus’ free FBE certification.
As a longtime instructor on the various certification programs, I am very mindful if the instructions and rules that accompany various applications. They matter. Director Carter, indicated to me that regardless of what the City definition of an FBE is on the application, she will allow Black women the opportunity to apply for FBE certification. She says that this has been a long standing issue across the country and that she and her colleagues are very sensitive to the issue. Under her tenure as director, Black women business owners can elected either the FBE certification or the MBE certification, but not both.
This is a good initiative and I applaud Director Carter’s stance on the issue. African American women who are currently certified as Minority Business Enterprises with the City of Columbus can change their MBE certification to Female Business Certification by forwarding a letter to her office. African American women can’t be counted as both women and minorities.
So what happens if she leaves the position as Director of EBO office. Will the new director take this same position? I still think that City Council should fix the city code. The Small and Minority Business Committee should initiate legislation. Who wouldn’t vote for this common sense issue. Cleveland will allow a business to certify in all areas that the business qualifies for.
Just my thoughts,
Ronda
