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Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Seattle Housing Authority strongly encourages the participation of small businesses, HUD Section 3 businesses, veteran-owned business as well as minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises (WMBE).

If you have questions about the processes or requirements for these types of businesses, contact Jena Richmond at jena.richmond@seattlehousing.org or 206.615.3473.

Small businesses
  • A small business means a business concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not an affiliate or subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operation, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR 121.
  • A business is also considered small according to the Small Business Administration's established guidelines.
HUD Section 3 businesses

A business can be Section 3 certified if it meets one of three criteria:

  • It is owned 51 percent or more by Section 3 qualified persons
  • 30 percent or more of the permanent, full-time employees of the business are Section 3 eligible persons
  • The business can provide evidence of a commitment to subcontract in excess of 25 percent of the amount of all subcontracts to other Section 3 certified businesses.

A Section 3 eligible person must be

  • a City of Seattle Housing Authority public housing resident;
  • or live in the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) covering King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties, and, meet or fall below the income levels outlined in SHA's Section 3 business certification form. 

Please complete the relevant forms below:

To learn more about becoming certified as a Section 3 business, contact Cary Calkins at (206) 588-4314 or cary.calkins@seattlehousing.org.

SHA has certified several firms on Section 3 businesses in the areas of consulting services, janitorial services and construction. View a list of these Section 3 firms.

If there are subcontracting opportunities on a Seattle Housing project you are interested in participating on, the agency encourages you to review this list for outreach and potential participation purposes.

Minority-, women-owned businesses

While SHA encourages qualified firms to seek certification as a Minority Business Enterprise or a Women's Business Enterprise from the Washington State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises, the agency recognizes self-certified businesses. 

Veteran-owned businesses

SHA encourages participation of Veteran-owned businesses in its procurement opportunities. Our procurement policy and outreach efforts ensure that these businesses have equal opportunity to compete for and do business with the SHA