What on gods earth is that meant to mean?!
Under the U.S. system, businesses owned by by people other than non-Hispanic males of European origin are given advantageous treatment when applyng for government loans and contracts. Women are a majority of the general population in the U.S. so they have to be added to the 'minority' label to get the desired result.
I have some good friends who are green card holders from the subcontinent. They have a business and have made the wife CEO so that the operation qualifies for women and minority status. They get preference in loans and government contracts over a male who was born in the U.S. and happened to be of non-Hispanic European ancestry.
This is done on the federal, state and local level in most places, for example:
http://www.cityoforlando.net/admin/mbe/index.html
http://www.dgs.state.pa.us/bcabd/site/default.asp
http://women-and-minority-owned-busi...wned-business/
From the link posted by Mike Jenvey earlier:
...A small business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual or individuals. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, and Native Americans are presumed to quality.
My Indian friends are far more wealthy than me but they are 'presumed' to be disadvantaged under this arcane system.