Supporting Small Businesses at SLC | The DBE and ACDBE Programs
David and Goliath. Rocky Balboa. The 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. People love a good underdog story—unlikely heroes who defy the odds and achieve their dreams. Small business owners are hardworking individuals— some might say ‘underdogs’— who are passionate about turning their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
At the Salt Lake International Airport (SLC), dedicated staff work with entrepreneurs to help their businesses thrive—both at the airport and across the country.
DBE and ACDBE
The above heading is not an advertisement for alphabet soup, but refers to two small business initiatives at SLC. Through the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) support disadvantaged, minority and women-owned firms. With regard to the airport, the DBE supports construction firms and the ACDBE supports food and beverage, retail shops, car rentals and more.
Raymond Christy, SLC’s DBE/ACDBE manager, is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. Through DBE and ACDBE, small businesses and firms that qualify are able to receive assistance in doing business with the airport.
“I’m trying to help businesses that work for the hardest person—themselves—find and do business at the airport,” Christy remarked.
Small businesses can face obstacles when doing business at the airport—start up costs and staffing to name a few. The DBE/ACDBE program creates opportunities for small businesses so that they can compete with larger, national companies.
An ACDBE Success Story | Hip & Humble
One beneficiary of the ACDBE initiative is Hip & Humble, owned by Sheridan Mordue. In 1999, fresh out of college, Mordue started Hip & Humble by selling tables, chairs and bookshelves in Salt Lake City’s 9th & 9th neighborhood. A beloved Utah shop, Hip & Humble grew to two brick-and-mortar locations before opening a location at SLC.
Through the ACDBE program, Mordue was able to open her airport shop in 2020. One of the first concessions in the new airport, Hip & Humble quickly became a favorite store for travelers at SLC. Hip & Humble’s success at SLC has led to a second shop in Concourse B and more locations at other airports: Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale and Louisville. What started as a young college graduate’s dream is now a thriving Utah business with a growing national presence.
Making Dreams Come True
Like Hip & Humble, DBE and ACDBE small businesses are given opportunities to thrive within Utah and on a national scale. At SLC, there are currently 14 businesses that take part in the ACDBE program— including familiar local brands like Roosters Brewing Co. and Millcreek Coffee Roasters. By elevating small businesses, the airport is supporting the local economy— increasing funds that stay within the state. Entrepreneurial dreams are becoming a reality everyday at SLC.