Reciprocity bill would simplify Ohio's minority business certification Ohio Sen. Vernon Sykes, District 28, Akron Local and county requirements have hampered a state of Ohio program created to increase the flow of business to minority business enterprises, or MBEs. Proposed legislation would remedy that by enforcing a statewide standard. Fewer than 1% of the more than 122,500 minority-owned businesses in Ohio take advantage of the state's MBE certification program, according to a 2017 Small Business Administration report and data from the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. The MBE program is designed to assist minority-owned businesses in obtaining government contracts by establishing a 15% set-aside requirement for state agencies in Ohio. However, business owners who qualify for the certification have said the process is complicated and time-consuming.