Office of Small Business Development

Welcome to the Office of Small Business Development

The City of Milwaukee's Office of Small Business Development (OSBD) is a multi-faceted direct service provider. The staff has a communication network with each of the city's contracting departments to ensure that the opportunities in commodity procurement, construction, service orders and professional services are available to small and emerging businesses.

We work to enhance the emerging small business community by maximizing support services, contract opportunities, financial resources to compete in the public and private sector markets.

Objectives & Services

OSBD was created to assist and protect the interest of emerging and small business concerns. We take steps to promote and encourage full and open competition in the City of Milwaukee so emerging businesses may successfully compete in a free market as independent business owners. We also work to establish mentor-protégé relationships between small businesses and those businesses in the mainstream marketplace.

History & City Ordinance

The Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) Program was enacted in 1989, through Chapter 360 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances. The EBE Program, formerly known as the DBE program, was created to assist and protect the interests of individuals who are disadvantaged and small business concerns in order to promote and encourage full and open competition in the City of Milwaukee. Chapter 360 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances was revised in 2002 to utilize city-certified EBEs in all contracting activities by approving an annual 18 percent EBE utilization requirement for each contracting department, and all other operating departments.

As of January 3, 2012, the Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) Program has transitioned to the Office of Small Business Development (OSBD) Program. OSBD certifies Small Business Enterprise firms to contract with the City of Milwaukee. This change is governed by Chapter 370.