Small, Minority & Disadvantaged Business 

Maryland's Official Certification Agency

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is Maryland's official certification agency for the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program, and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program. We ensure only bona fide MBE/DBE/ACDBE/SBE firms participate in our program through our comprehensive certification program. Certified firms appear in MDOT's Online Directory of Certified Firms.

Please visit the "Certifications and Forms" page for information on the certification programs and required documentation. Please contact the OMBE office for assistance regarding the certification programs.

Our Mission

The Maryland Department of Transportation is a customer-driven leader that delivers safe, sustainable, intelligent, exceptional, and inclusive transportation solutions in order to connect our customers to life’s opportunities.

Important Messages

Pursuant to federal regulation 49 C.F.R. Part 23, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking comments on the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and goals for State Highway Administration (SHA) & Metropolitan Planning Organizations. In establishing DBE Program Overall goals, federal regulations require consultation with stakeholders, which include, without limitation, minority and women’s business groups, community organizations, and other officials or organizations that may have information concerning the availability of disadvantaged businesses, the effects of discrimination on opportunities for small, minority and disadvantaged firms, and MDOT’s and SHA’s efforts to increase DBE participation. To comply with this requirement, we are seeking stakeholder input through a survey and public meetings called Listening Sessions. Your input is important and may be used to enhance operations of the DBE Program at MDOT and SHA. Please fill out the Survey and register to participate in one of our four Public Listening Sessions where you can provide “virtual” feedback. The online survey must be completed by June 28, 2024 and can be accessed here The Public Listening Sessions are scheduled as follows:
Subcontractors Only:
June 3, 2024 from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (Register here)
June 3, 2024 from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (Register here)
Prime Contractors Only:
June 5, 2024 from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (Register here)
June 5, 2024 from 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (Register here)

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Small and Minority Business Policy at mdotmbeoutreach@mdot.maryland.gov or 410-865-1298.

Mid-Atlantic small businesses affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26, 2024 may apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). For additional information and to access the the loan application click here. The filing deadline to return economic injury applications is December 30, 2024.

For more information or further assistance, contact SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Funding & Incentives Port of Baltimore Emergency Business Assistance Program (maryland.gov).

The application portal will open April 22, 2024 through May 6, 2024 or until grant funds are fully obligated, whichever comes first.

Grants of up to $100,000 per business may be awarded to offset the loss of revenue or increased costs resulting from the reduced operations at the Port of Baltimore.

The State of Maryland is currently conducting a Disparity Study. For more information, please visit State of Maryland Disparity Study (stateofmddisparitystudy.com).