What’s at Stake?
Without Congressional reauthorization, the DBE program — and the economic impact it drives — will be at serious risk. Elimination of the DBE program under the guise that it’s no longer needed ignores the ripple effects this would have — particularly in rural areas where DBEs are often major employers. Many small, local businesses would lose access to critical infrastructure contracts and may be forced to reduce hours, cut wages, or lay off employees.
Entire communities, especially those already underserved, could suffer devastating economic consequences. Without DBEs, our transportation infrastructure would suffer from reduced competition and innovation, as only large firms would dominate contract awards.
Work With Us to Save the DBE Program
The DBE program is essential to helping ensure that all businesses —regardless of size or ownership — can access federal contracting opportunities and not get left behind. It is one of the only tools available to address ongoing, real-world discrimination in federal contracting. Eliminating the program would erase one of the few effective avenues for underrepresented entrepreneurs to gain a foothold in an industry they would otherwise be excluded from. Failing to reauthorize the DBE program means thousands of small businesses may lose the contracts that drive their revenue and sustain their workforce.
That is why Women First has made it our mission to work with our members, trustees, and DBE recipients across the nation to make our voices heard by telling our stories, showing exactly how the DBE program is important to America’s economy.
How You Can Help
Join us in our fight to save the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) Program.