About Us

Who we are:

The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE) is the State of Tennessee’s certification agency for diverse business enterprises. We are the central point of contact to assist diverse and small for-profit businesses to compete successfully in State procurement and contracting activities.

Mission:

To coordinate the State’s efforts to facilitate greater participation by minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, persons with disabilities-owned, and small businesses in the State’s procurement and contracting opportunities.

Vision:

To be the best program in the nation for expanding meaningful economic opportunities to business enterprises owned by Tennessee small businesses, including minority, women, persons with disabilities, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. 

History:

The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE), established in January 2004 through Executive Order No. 14, requires full cooperation from Executive Branch departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and other State government divisions to achieve the objectives outlined in the executive order. 

Formal certification of businesses by Go-DBE began in late 2004, initially including three categories: women, minorities, and small businesses. The inclusion of service-disabled veteran businesses occurred in July 2010 following the enactment of Public Chapter 1140. Subsequently, in July 2017, Public Chapter 0485 expanded the scope to include businesses owned by persons with disabilities.