Small + Disadvantaged Businesses

As a condition of financial assistance that the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) receives from federal sources, the MAC has established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program for construction and airport concessions in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

MAC policies ensure that disadvantaged businesses and other small businesses have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in DOT-assisted contracts.

Click to learn more about the USDOT's DBE and airport concessions DBE programs.

The MAC has established the following overall program goals:

• DBE Goal - 15 percent (2023 to 2025)  

• DBE Goal - 13 percent (2026 to 2028)

• Non-Rental Car ACDBE Goal - 21 percent (2024 to 2026)

• Rental Car ACDBE Goal - 3 percent (2024 to 2026)

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) is committed to the development of small businesses in the airport industry. To accomplish the development of small businesses, the MAC has established and facilitates participation in the MAC Small Business Program.

MAC supports meaningful participation of small businesses certified in Minnesota's Target Group Business (TGB), Economic Disadvantage (ED), and Veteran Owned (VO) program; St Paul's CERT program; or the DBE program.

A business can also be determined by MAC's Civil Rights and Small Business Development Office as either an Emerging Small Business or a Small Business Enterprise.

An Emerging Small Business (Tier 1) is defined as a firm (including affiliates) whose average gross receipts over the firm's previous five fiscal years do not exceed $5 million.

A Small Business Enterprise a firm (including affiliates) whose average gross receipts over the firm's previous five fiscal years do not exceed $10 million.

No owner of a small business can have a personal net worth of more than $2.047 million.

The MAC applies its Small Business program to the procurement of goods or services, construction or professional services. Procurement is defined as expenditures for construction, architecture and engineering, professional services, goods and supplies and other services. At the MAC, Small Businesses must be certified in a program identified above or determined to be a small business by MAC's Civil Rights Office to count toward a Small Business goal.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), committed to helping small businesses succeed at MSP Airport, has launched MSP ASCEND, a small business concessions certification program. MSP ASCEND helps qualified small businesses navigate the concessions application process, connects them to potential partnerships, and sets aside opportunities for small business concessions participation.

To be eligible for the MSP ASCEND program, small businesses must meet certain requirements:

• Revenue of $56.42 million or less (5-year average)
• Personal net worth of no more than $2.042 million for the primary owner
• Provide services for the traveling public

For more information or to apply: