• Mission Statement
• What is it?
• Program Objectives
• Opportunities Available
• Program Certification
• Supportive Services
• ESB Program Forms
• Resource Links
• Contact Information

The Oregon Department of Transportation strongly encourages, and is committed to, the participation of Emerging Small Businesses (ESB's) in contracting opportunities. The mission of the Emerging Small Business Program is to create new and innovative contracting opportunities for Oregon's small business community. It's also a goal of the program to assist emerging small businesses in overcoming barriers to participating in the state's extensive public contracting procurement programs. As with every program, ODOT's policy is not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex and/or national origin when awarding and administering those contracts.

Beginning in 2006, to be certified to participate as a qualified ESB, your business must:

• Have its principal place of business located in Oregon
• Have an average annual gross receipts over the last three years in either of two Tiers: I) not exceeding $1.5 million for construction firms and $600,000 for non-construction firms; or II) not exceeding $3 million for construction firms and $1 million for non-construction
• Have fewer than 20 employees for Tier I or 30 employees for Tier II
• Be an independent business (not a subsidiary of a larger firm)
• Be properly licensed and legally registered in this state

New legislation also extends the time a firm may participate in the ESB program to a maximum of 12 years or until its gross receipts average exceeds the size standard for construction or non-construction firms.

• Ensure ODOT complies with Oregon laws and requirements
• Assist and encourage other state and local agencies to develop ESB program initiatives
• Ensure that diverse opportunities are available statewide to a diverse pool of eligible businesses
• Ensure that ESB's can compete fairly for selected Oregon Transportation Funded projects
• Ensure that only eligible firms participate as ESB's
• Help develop firms to compete successfully in the marketplace outside the ESB Program

Building Construction Technology courses for MWESB's

These classes are offered through PCC and are open only to certified M/W/ESB's. Tuition is paid by the City of Portland/Multnomah County. For more information visit PCC's Building Construction Technology webpage

Excusive bidding Opportunities for certified ESB firms

Currently, the ODOT ESB program is identifying hundreds of contracting opportunities that certified Oregon firm are encouraged to pursue.
Most of these contracting opportunities are estimated to at $50,000 and below, are not technically complex, and are relatively short in duration. Best of all, many of these projects are set aside for excusive bidding by certified ESB firms. This guarantees that you will be bidding only against other firms of the same relative size.

Firms are required to be a certified ESB to participate in the Emerging Small Business Program. The application process is free and fairly simple to complete.
To obtain ESB certification contact:

The Office of Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business (OMWESB)
Department of Consumer and Business Services
350 Winter St. NE, Second Floor
P.O. Box 14480
Salem, OR 97309-0405
Salem office: (503) 947-7976
Fax: (503) 373-7041
Portland office: (503) 887-4349

Our Supportive Service Program offers assistance to certified ESB's in many areas such as:

• Using the web to search the world (as well as your own neighborhood) for literally thousands of contract opportunities
• Putting free and low-cost resources to work for your small business
• How to get government contracts<
• Pre & Post Award Administration Issues
• Many others

For more details contact:

Willamette GCAP
1144 Gateway Lp., Ste 203
Springfield, Oregon 97477
Phone: 541-736-1088
Toll-free: (800) 497-7551
Fax: (541) 736-1090

• ESB Certification Application & Instructions

Government

• City of Portland Purchasing
• Governor's Advocate
• Multnomah County Purchasing
• Office of Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business
• Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries
• Oregon Business Guides
• Oregon Construction Contractors Board
• Oregon Corporation Division
• Oregon Department of Administrative Services
• Starting A Business In Oregon
• Oregon Secretary of State
• Oregon State Web site
• U.S. Small Business Administration

Chamber of Commerce

• African American Chamber of Commerce
• Oregon Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Oregon Native American Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce of Oregon

Associations

• American Subcontractors Association
• Associated General Contractors
• Association of Oregon Counties
• League of Oregon Cities
• National Association of Women in Construction
• Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs
• Oregon Builders Congress
• Oregon Native American Business & Entrepreneurial Network
• Oregon Small Business Development Center Network
• Service Corps of Retired Executives

For more information about the ESB Program, contact our Emerging Small Business Program Coordinator