The Mentor Protégé Program is one of the programs and services provided by the Small Business Development Unit. In partnership with the Minnesota Unified Certification Program (MnUCP), its purpose is to further the development of certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms by providing training and assistance from other firms so that the small businesses may:
- Move into non-traditional areas of work
- Compete in the marketplace outside the DBE program
- Develop their capacity to compete on projects