Is My Business Eligible?

• Ordinance No. 049-13HR Sec. 2-641 (a).

For the purpose of this program, a firm will be certified as a Small and Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) (or Emerging SLBE (ESLBE)) with the Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) upon its submission of a completed certification Application, supporting documentation, and a signed and notarized affidavit affirming that it meets all of the SLBE/ESLBE eligibility criteria as set forth below:

1.    An independently owned and operated for-profit business as defined by South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 33, Chapter 31; 

2.    It meets size standard eligibility requirements for Small Business Enterprises as defined below:

• Is not a broker
• Is not a subsidiary of another business
• Is not dominant in its field of operation   
• Whose owners are actively involved in day-to-day management and control of the business      
• And that also is performing a commercially useful function

Local Business Enterprise (“LBE): A firm having a Principal Place of Business or a Significant Employment Presence in Richland County, South Carolina.

Small Local Business Enterprise (“SLBE”): An independently owned firm that is not dominant in its industry and that satisfies all requirements of being both a “Small Business Enterprise” and a “Local Business Enterprise.” As defined by Ordinance No 049-13HR Sec 2-639 (c) definitions.

Emerging SLBE ("ESLBE"):  An emerging firm that meets all of the qualifications of a Small Local Business Enterprise, and:

• Is less than five (5) years old
• Has no more than five (5) full-time employees     
• Annual gross sales as averaged over the life of the firm are less than $1 million      

Joint Venture (“JV”). An association of two or more persons or businesses carrying out a single business enterprise for which purpose they combine their capital, efforts, skills, knowledge and/or property. 

• Joint ventures must be established by written agreement
• Joint ventures must be certified on a bid-by-bid basis       
• The joint venture shall not be subject to the average gross receipts and employee limits imposed by this section      
• Each individual business participating in the joint venture must be certified by the OSBO as an SLBE    

Review Eligibility Requirements.