Loading...

The Oxford English Dictionary defines diversity as the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc. It also describes inclusion as the practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minority groups.

Defining XBE

The term XBE was established in recognition of the lack of inclusion for all disadvantaged businesses. The eligibility to be certificated as DBE is not all-inclusive of every socially or economically disadvantaged group and thus the Diversity Consortium has recognized the necessity for encapsulation.

Created and designed to remedy the ongoing discrimination and continued effects of past discrimination in the marketplace; the term XBE will be used as an inclusive location of all DBE. This is a place where all hardworking, honest businesses providing great service can thrive.

The Diversity Consortium chooses to use a single all-encompassing term that better reflects inclusivity.

Take out the categories; remove the labels. Call them XBEs.

The Diversity Consortium recognizes the following diversity classifications: 

  • Small Business Administration (SBA-8a)

  • Disabled business (DBE)

  • Disadvantaged business (DISAD)

  • Disabled-veteran-owned business (DVBE)

  • Historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions (HBCU)

  • HUB-zone small business (HUB)

  • Labor Surplus Area (LSA)

  • Geographic Business Enterprise (GBE)

  • Lesbian-, gay-, bisexual-, transgender- and queer-owned business (LGBTQ+)

  • Minority-owned business (MBE)

  • Service-disabled-veteran-owned business (SDVBE)

  • Small disadvantaged business (SDIS)

  • Veteran-owned business (VBE)

  • Woman-owned business (WBE)

  • All categories of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (XBE)

  • Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)

The Diversity Consortium recognizes organizations including, but not limited to the following:

  • National Minority Supplier Development Council

  • National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

  • Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

  • National Veteran Business Development Council

  • U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Minority Business Development Agency (U.S. Department of Commerce)

  • National Black Chamber of Commerce

  • U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

  • Veteran and Military Business Owners Association

Subscribe to receive our XBE definition white paper.

Your trusted source for diversity strategies, supplier solutions, and community impact.

Sign up once to receive this and all future white papers including:

  • COVID-19 Impact on Disadvantaged and Diverse Business Enterprises
  • What’s the X in XBE?
  • Diversity in Technology
  • How communities get better with increased funding

Get a Supplier Diversity Assessment in 30 days – and discover how you rank among your peer group. Ask us how at info@thediversityconsortium.com

What topics are you interested in? *
XBE Services
Corporate Services
White Papers

WE ARE READY TO ADDRESS YOUR
EQUITY & INCLUSION QUESTIONS!

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

We work as a single united team with market leading firms to
ensure our Clients the highest quality service available.