Eligibility

Who is eligible for the services of the center?

According to the MBDATM, entrepreneurs eligible for assistance under the MBECTM Program are: African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Spanish-Speaking Americans, Aleuts, Asian and Pacific Americans, Asian Indians, Native Americans, Eskimos, and Hasidic Jews.

The MBECTM Program provides business assistance services to minority firms with $500,000 or more in annual revenues and/or minority businesses with “rapid growth potential” (“Strategic Growth Initiative” or “SGI” firms).

Area of Service

This branch provides assistance to businesses located in the following counties:

Alameda                         Contra Costa                   Mendocino                      Marin

Monterrey                       Napa                                San Benito                      San Francisco

San Mateo                      San Joaquin                    Santa Clara                     Santa Cruz        

Sacramento                    Solano                             Sonoma

Fees

The U.S. Department of Commerce has determined that the fees for the MBEC's services should be based on a $100 per hour rate. This rate is heavily subsidized from 40 to 90%. The level of subsidy is based on the previous year's gross revenues of the minority business, meaning a sliding scale from $10 to $60 dollars per hour.

I.e. if your company’s revenue for last year was up to $299,999 you will only pay $20 per hour of requested service.

Northern California Minority Business Enterprise Center

Gross receipts

Base rate per hour

Percent borne by client

Client fee per hour

$0 to $99,999

$100

10%

$10

$100,000 to $299,999

$100

20%

$20

$300,000 to $999,999

$100

30%

$30

$1,000,000 to $2,999,999

$100

40%

$40

$3,000,000 to $4,999,999

$100

50%

$50

$5,000,000 and over

$100

60%

$60