8(a) Business Development Division, SBA, Columbus

http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/oh/columbus/oh_columbus_columbusmed.html    401 N. Front St. Suite 200,  Columbus, Ohio 43215.  Phone:   (614) 469-6860.   Contact:  Linda Brooks (linda.brooks@sba.gov) or Eugene Grant (eugene.grant@sba.gov).  Web site says:  "The 8(a) Program is intended to be used exclusively for business development purposes to help small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to compete on an equal basis in the mainstream of the American economy....    The 8(a) program is not for start-up businesses. A company must be in business for two years, waivers of this requirement are possible. To be eligible for the 8(a) program participation, a small business concern must be at least 51% owned, controlled and daily operated by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged persons."  To find out whether someone can be certified as "socially and economically disadvantaged," contact Linda Brooks (e-mail above).