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 FFY 2010,
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 Administra tion, 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 (with instructions),
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 (a website link for each resource listed below is provided by clicking on the resource's name):
City of Johnson City Business Relocation and New Business Start-up Guide: An informational guide for new businesses in Johnson City or businesses relocating to Johnson City
East
Tennessee Business Enterprise Resource Office:
Monthly meetings by
appointment at the Johnson City Development Authority (423-928-2988)
ETSU
Innovation Laboratory: The ETSU Innovation Laboratory
is an economic development initiative of East Tennessee State University,
partnered with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center and the
ETSU Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. (423-439-8500)
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 at ETSU :
Informational guidance on
business start-up. To make appointment on-line for business start-up/continuation
counseling, click
here.
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 theCivil Rights Act of 1964; 49 CFR, Part 21; related statutesand
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 nationalorigin, under any program or
activity receiving
financial assistancefrom the U.S. Department of Transportation.
It is the goal of Johnson City Transit (a department of the City of Johnson City) to reduce language barriers for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP), including the development and implementation of the Johnson City Transit Language Assistance Implementation Plan for LEP Persons, which also fulfills the requirements of Executive Order 13166, issued on August 11, 2000. Click here to view the Johnson City Transit Language Assistance Implementation Plan for LEP Persons.
To file a complaint alleging that Johnson City Transit has
not complied with Title VI regulations, click
here to view/print instructions
on filing a complaint, and click
here to view/print a complaint form.
EEO
The City of Johnson City is an Equal Employment Opportunity compliant employer dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment upon any basis, including race, color, crred, religion, age, sex, national origin, military status, or the presence of any disabilities. To view the Johnson City Transit Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Active Policy Statement, click here.
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).
Note:
Johnson City Transit is a department of the City of Johnson City.
