The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certifies small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged persons. An applicant’s economic disadvantaged status is verified by his or her personal net worth.

Personal net worth requirements

• The primary owner(s)’ personal net worth may not exceed $2.047 million.
• A person’s primary residence and the assets of the certified business do not count toward the personal net worth calculation.
• There are circumstances where an applicant’s personal net worth does not exceed $2.047 million, but the OMWBE determines the person is not economically disadvantaged.
• If an individual's personal net worth does not exceed $2,047,000 as described in this section, the office may rebut an individual's presumption of economic disadvantage if the statement of personal net worth and supporting documentation demonstrates that a reasonable person would not consider the individual to be economically disadvantaged even though the individual's personal net worth (PNW) did not exceed the limitation cap. Among the evidence the office can consider are ready access to wealth, income or assets of a type or magnitude inconsistent with economic disadvantage, a lavish lifestyle, community property, or other circumstances that economically disadvantaged people typically do not enjoy. Liabilities and the kind of asset exclusions used in PNW calculations would not be taken into account as part of this determination.

Applicable federal and state rules

See the below federal and state rules for more information. They contain the same requirements.

• Federal rule that determine personal net worth: Title 49 C.F.R. 26.67
• State rule that determine personal net worth: WAC 326-20-049