Danielle L. Dietrich, Esq.

08/21/2026

Here is a link to my vlog, providing my thoughts on the newly proposed SBA Small Business Size Standards:

On August 20, 2026, the SBA dropped a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking...

08/21/2026

The SBA has proposed a MAJOR overhaul of its small business size standards, which may greatly increase the number of businesses eligible to be considered small. Here is a blog post I did giving an overview of what is proposed:

On August 20, 2026, the U.S. Small Business Administration published a proposed rule that would reshape how it defines a "small business" across nearly every industry. For many firms the proposal expands access to federal contracts and SBA loan programs; for existing small businesses built around se...

08/20/2026

Honored to be listed in this year's Best Lawyers in America, along with 34 of my PLG colleagues.

I also love taking a glance at the lawyers who are receiving this honor at my firm- it includes a lot of women and people from diverse backgrounds - one of my favorite things about PLG.

We are pleased to announce that 35 PLG lawyers have been chosen by their peers for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. These attorneys represent a broad cross section of the firm’s practices, including administrative/regulatory, corporate, energy, immigration, insurance...

07/29/2026

Hi everyone! Haven't posted a YouTube video in a while, so here's a link to a quick one that I just did on a few updates:

It has been a while since my last update, so I thought I'd check in...

07/29/2026

Pennsylvania DBEs - Daniel Lucas of the PA DBE Coalition asked me to share this flyer about PennDOT's upcoming two-hour public forms regarding the DBE program, including an hour of Q&A. If you are a PA DBE- please try to attend and voice your opinions and questions. I know that I still have a lot of PA clients that submitted their recertifications early and still do not have a response from their certifying agency. Shout out to Dan for trying to spread the word.

They will be in Philly (this coming Monday in King of Prussia), "Pittsburgh" (Wednesday 8/5/2026 in Uniontown - 1 1/2 hours southeast from Pittsburgh- hence the quotes!), and virtually on Friday, August 7th (if you can't use the QR code in the flyer, the link to register for that is b9766902-da1d-41bb-a976-4f79ab17536e@418e2841-0128-4dd5-9b6c-47fc5a9a1bde)." rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/b9766902-da1d-41bb-a976-4f79ab17536e@418e2841-0128-4dd5-9b6c-47fc5a9a1bde). I have conflicts and cannot attend, but I hope that many of you can!

06/19/2026

Quick weekly DBE/ACDBE recertification update: I am up to 106 approvals! Every time I receive an email from a client that they got the approval, it makes my heart sing.

More importantly, as we celebrate Juneteenth, I want to honor this day. Not only as a milestone in American history, but as a testament to the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of the Black community. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally received word of their freedom (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation!). That delay reminds us that opportunity must be actively delivered, not just promised.

In my DBE and ACDBE recertification work, I have the privilege of partnering with many Black-owned businesses whose owners carry forward that spirit of perseverance every day. I am proud to support their growth and help ensure equitable access to the opportunities they have earned. Happy Juneteenth.

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05/29/2026

Here is my new video explaining what you need to produce when applying for DBE/ACDBE interstate certification after getting recertified in your home state. Spoiler alert: it's not your personal narrative and PNW!

The next frontier in the DBE/ACDBE recertification process is interstate certification. I am receiving a lot of reports of states improperly demanding copies...

05/27/2026

WARNING TO ALL DBEs: When you are applying for interstate certification after being certified in your home state, you do NOT have to provide the additional state(s) with a copy of your personal narrative and personal net worth statements. Numerous clients are reporting to me that certifying agencies are demanding that they produce these documents. Understandably, my clients are very hesitant to further distribute their personal narratives, which contain very sensitive and personal information.

WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE:

Interstate certification is governed by 49 CFR Section 26.85. Subsection (c) covers what you need to provide, and it is very limited:

1) a cover letter saying you are applying for interstate certification, identifying everywhere you are certified as a DBE (including your home state);

2) An electronic image (i.e. screenshot) of the UCP directory in your home state showing your certification; and

3) A new Declaration of Eligibility (the simple form you sign saying nothing has changed - a link will be in the comments below).

Once you provide all of this, the state where you are seeking interstate certification has 10 business days to verify your certification and approve you in their state. If they want any other materials, they need to ask your home state (or jurisdiction of original certification/JOC as it is now called).

If the additional state is asking you for your PNW or PN, they are out of compliance with federal regulations.

05/22/2026

Attention DBE-Certified Businesses: Don't Let Your Certification Lapse

The BUILD America 250 Act is moving through Congress, and when it passes, it will reauthorize the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. That means new opportunities, new contracts, and continued access to the federal projects that keep your business growing. But if you haven't submitted your recertification, you risk being left behind while your competitors move forward.

I know that many of you still haven't applied, and I understand why. The recertification process can feel intimidating. Maybe you're unsure whether you'd even get approved again. But isn't it worth trying? The cost of not applying is far greater than the effort it takes to submit.

Here's what I want you to know: you have a story worth telling, and it may be a more compelling one than you realize. Your experiences, your challenges, the path you've taken to build your business — there is so much more in your journey to talk about than you might think.

That's exactly why I designed my questionnaire the way I did. It walks you through a wide range of topics so you don't have to worry about figuring out what to include and what to leave out. You just answer the questions. From there, I follow up, ask more questions, dig deeper into the details, and use all of that to put together your narrative. The goal is to make this process as easy as possible for you.

Don't wait any longer, or you're going to miss out on opportunities. If you need help writing your recertification narrative, please reach out to me. I'm here to help you stay certified and stay competitive.

Send a message to learn more

05/21/2026

As I posted about in my blog yesterday, the BUILD America 250 Act contains a reauthorization of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. Here is my YouTube video discussing what this legislation says about the DBE program and how it may affect you:

Earlier this week, the BUILD America 250 Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. Included in this massive (1,000+ pages) bill is a reauthorizatio...