BMHA's preference is to ensure as many Section 3 Business Concerns as possible are afforded opportunities by contracting and/or subcontracting. In an effort to further our goal, BMHA has adopted the following preference priority category structure for Section 3 Business Concerns (Reference 24 CFR Part 135.36). Vendors are asked to comply with this priority preference to the greatest extent feasible. Vendors seeking to qualify for a Section 3 contracting preference shall certify or submit evidence, if requested, that the Business Concern qualifies as defined in Reference 24 CFR Part 135.36. Section 3 Business Concern means a business concern:
a) It is 51% or more owned by Section 3 Residents; or
b) Whose permanent, full-time employees include persons, at least 30 percent of whom are currently Section 3 residents, or within 3 years of the date of first employment with the business concern were Section 3 residents; or
c) That provide evidence of a commitment to subcontract in excess of 25 percent of the dollar award of all subcontracts to be awarded to business concerns. Vendors seeking Business Concern Preference should download and complete the PDF application Section 3 Business Concern Application Please make sure to open in Adobe Reader to complete the online PDF form, then save it to your local computer. Once completed, please email this to
Vendors qualifying for Section 3 preference will receive a Section 3 Business Concern listing. Click here for a current listing of Section 3 Business Concern Vendors.
Section 3 is the basis for providing jobs to residents and awarding contracts to businesses in areas receiving certain types of HUD financing. Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 [12 U.S.C. 1701u and 24 CFR Part 135] represents HUD's policy for providing preference for new employment, training, and contracting opportunities created from the usage of covered HUD funds to low- and very low-income residents of the community where certain funds are spent (regardless of race or gender), and the businesses that substantially employ these persons.
For questions regarding Section 3, please contact Melanie Veal at (513)868-5211 or
Section 3 Residents
Section 3 Residents are residents of Public and Indian Housing or individuals that reside in the metropolitan area or non-metropolitan county in which the Section 3 covered assistance is expended and whose income do not exceed the local income criteria of low- or very low-income. Low income is defined as 80% or below the median income of that area. Very low income is defined as 50% or below the median income of that area. If you are a resident seeking Section 3 preference training and employment, please complete thePDF form Section 3 Resident Certification ONLINE FORM Please make sure to open in Adobe Reader to complete the online PDF form, then save it to your local computer. Once completed, please email this to