what is an 8 a firm 
an 8 a firm is a small business that is owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged citizens and that has been accepted into the 8 a business development program this program is administered by the small business administration sba the united states agency charged with supporting the growth and development of small businesses 1 the 8 a program is designed to help disadvantaged entrepreneurs get government contracts and access the economic mainstream in america 