Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
It is the policy of Johnson City Transit (a department of the City of Johnson City) to afford Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, as defined in 49 CFR Part 26, as amended, the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts financed in whole or in part with federal funds. To see a copy of Johnson City Transit's overall DBE goal for FY 2008, click here.
What is a DBE?
A DBE is a for-profit small business that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged, as defined in 49 CFR Part 26.67. Citizens of the United States (or lawfully admitted permanent residents) who are women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, or other minorities found to be disadvantaged by the Small Business Administration, are rebuttably presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Other criteria include, but are not limited to: 1) the individual owner’s personal net worth (must be less than $750,000 excluding the individual’s home and shares in the prospective DBE); and, 2) the average annual gross receipts of the prospective DBE over the past three years must not exceed $20.41 million (per 13 CFR 121.402). For a link to DBE regulations, 49 CFR Part 26, click here.
How does a business become certified as a DBE?
JCT’s DBE certification is administered by the Small Business Development Program, Civil Rights Office, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). To print a DBE application, click here. You may also pick up a copy of a DBE application at the JCT Transit Center. Once a business is certified as a DBE, the Tennessee Unified Certified Program allows multiple agencies to utilize the same certification statewide, to simplify the application process.
Completed DBE applications should be mailed to:
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Civil Rights Office, Small Business Development Program
Suite 1800, James K. Polk Bldg.
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0347
What are the advantages of being certified as a DBE?
Certification as a DBE provides greater exposure for contract opportunities. Once certified, your business’s address is added to a state-wide database which is compiled and maintained by TDOT. This list, the TDOT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Listing, is accessed by other transit systems, as well as municipal and state agencies seeking to do business with DBEs. Being certified as a DBE enhances a business’s exposure to the business community. However, there is no requirement to be a certified DBE in order to do business with Johnson City Transit. The current TDOT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Listing may be viewed by clicking here.
Is there any cost to become certified as a DBE?
No.
For business assistance, including areas of technical, financial, and management information, current and prospective DBEs (including potential start-up businesses) may contact the local resources listed below (website links underlined):
East Tennessee Business Enterprise Resource Office: monthly meetings by appointment at the Johnson City Development Authority (423-928-2988)
Small Business Administration: Calendar of Training Events in Tennessee
Tennessee SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): Johnson City Chapter hours 9:00 to 12:00, Monday -Friday (423-461-8051)
TN Small Business Development Center: ETSU staff expertise partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration (423-439-8505)
Title VI
It is the policy of the City of Johnson City, as a grant recipient of the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration, to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 49 CFR, Part 21; related statutes and regulations to that end that no person shall be excluded from participation in or be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin, under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation. If you wish to file a complaint alleging that Johnson City Transit has not complied with Title VI regulations, you may click here to view/print instructions on filing a complaint, and click here to view/print a complaint form.
Si usted ha decidido someter una querella alegando que el Departamento de Transportación de la Ciudad de Johnson City (JCT) no ha cumplido con las regulaciones bajo Titulo VI, favor marcar/clik en esta sección para ver e imprimir las instruciones necesarias para someter su querella y luego marcar/clik en esta sección para ver e imprimir la Forma de Querella Titulo VI.
Click here to view the Johnson City Transit Limited English Proficiency Plan.
ADA
The City of Johnson City complies with all
applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA) 42 USC § 12101 e.t. sec; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended, 29 USC § 794; and section 16 of the Federal
Transit Act, as amended, 49 USC app § 1612.
The City of Johnson City is a drug-free workplace, and abides
by the provisions of the Drug Free Workplace Act (49 CFR Part 29 Subpart
F).
Johnson City Transit is a department of the City of Johnson City.
