Business Enterprise Program
In 1936, the Randolph-Sheppard Act established the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program, more commonly known as the Business Enterprise Program (BEP). The BEP provides persons who are legally blind with an opportunity for employment and self-support through the operation of vending facilities on federal and other properties.
We offer many BEP-related resources and training opportunities. Please browse this site and contact the NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision with any questions that you may have regarding the content at nrtc@colled.msstate.edu or 662-325-2001.
Business Enterprise Program Brochure
Practices for Recruiting Transition-Age Youth into the Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program
The purpose of this resource guide is to assist Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program (BEP) staff in recruiting transition-age youth with legal blindness into the program. The guide discusses recruitment strategies for transition-age youth currently used by BEPs across the country. It also provides suggestions for developing recruitment practices for transition-age youth and the benefits that may be derived from implementing such activities.
Working with Blind Entrepreneurs who have Hearing Loss in the Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program Resource Guide
This resource guide was developed to assist Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program (BEP) staff working with blind entrepreneurs with hearing loss. It gives suggestions and strategies for accommodating these entrepreneurs in training activities, on-the-job, and at meetings. It also contains advice from blind entrepreneurs with hearing loss and from BEP staff experienced in working with this demographic. The guide can serve as one resource BEP staff can use when working with a blind entrepreneur with hearing loss for the first time. An additional purpose of this guide is to promote the fact that individuals with combined hearing and vision loss are and can be highly successful entrepreneurs in the Randolph-Sheppard Program.
