MBE Certification And How It Sets You Apart.

What Is MBE Certification?

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification is a denotation that is given to businesses that are majority-owned by Minorities or other economically disadvantaged segments within the American population. This certification applies to: Asians, Hispanics, LGBT, American Indians, Black, and Veteran owned businesses. The MBE Program was created in an attempt to make all state contracts, opportunities, and benefits available to economically disadvantaged businesses without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, or ancestry.

Do You Really Need To Be “Certified”?

Large corporations have rolled out supplier diversity programs to help streamline their use of diverse suppliers and increase their overarching MBE spend. The United States Federal Government has requirements for businesses to maintain a certain level of MBE spend before they may be considered for any government contracts. Companies that source Minority Owned Businesses or suppliers often see the benefits of these symbiotic relationships come in the form of both state and federal tax breaks and incentives. There are numerous programs on both a federal level and state level that offer tax incentives for business that procure certified MBEs. However, many organizations require third-party or governmental certification for businesses to be considered eligible for supplier-diversity programs. Therefore, a third-party certification and vetting are necessary for you to take advantage of these benefits.

What Other Benefits Are There To Certification?

In addition to the access to corporations and diverse businesses mentioned above, other benefits to certification include:

• Networking opportunities

• Exposure for your business

• Education and training opportunities

• Mentorship from more seasoned certified MBEs in your field

How To Get Certified

We’re here to help you find out how to get certified by both the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and how to get the Ohio MBE/EDGE certification. There are many certifications available to economically disadvantaged businesses both on a state and national level.

When you are ready to make the step to becoming a certified MBE, we are here to help you prepare yourself for the application process.  Please contact crystal@connxus.com for mentorship on the certification process.