Projects that have federal money, such as water or wastewater treatment facilities and pipelines, must have a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (minority or women-owned businesses) goal. The overall U.S. EPA goal is set by federal legislation at 8%. This goal is the national average goal, with individual states having to survey their labor areas for the actual goals. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has done a survey of available contractors and sub-contractors in the geographic region that typically supports bids in Vermont. When the data was analyzed and presented to U.S. EPA Region I, it was determined that the Agency of Natural Resources overall goal for DBE participation would be 2%, with equal distribution between minority and women-owned businesses (1% each). That 2% goal is to be reviewed annually by both U.S. EPA and the Agency of Natural Resources. If there are increases or decreases of available contractors or sub-contractors, the DBE goal (and sub-contracting goal) would be renegotiated.

Since March of 1995, the Agency of Natural Resources has a written policy that directs how the DBE program is to be managed. That policy outlines the procedures to be used by a project owner and contractor to meet the goals specified. That policy is available on this web site at: VT State Policy, dated March 14, 1995 (7 pages PDF)