:: Certifications
Small Business Certification- Small business certifications are like professional certifications. They document a special capability or status that will help companies compete in the marketplace. Unlike permits and licenses, you do not need to obtain certifications to legally operate. However, in order to take advantage of business opportunities, such as government contracts, you may need to obtain some certifications. Federal, state, local governments and the private sector offer businesses opportunities to sell billions of dollars worth of products and services. Many government agencies require that some percentage of the procurements be set aside for small businesses.
| BEP – Business Enterprise Program for the State of Illinois | The Business Enterprise Program promotes the economic development of diverse businesses - those owned by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. In 2009 the State of Illinois awarded nearly $400 million to BEP-certified firms. |
| 8(a) –Small Business Administration - Pending | In the alphabet soup of small business categories and certifications, you may not have heard of the Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program aimed to bolster minority and other disadvantaged businesses through federal contract and other preferences. |
| VOSB – Veteran Owned Small Business | 819.201 General policy. The Secretary shall establish goals for each fiscal year for participation in Department contracts by SDVOSBs and VOSBs. In order to establish contracting priority for veteran-owned and controlled small businesses in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 8128, the Secretary may decrease other statusspecific small business goals set forth by section 15(g)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)) upon consultation with the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). |
| MBE – Minority Business Enterprise (NMSDC) | The National Minority Supplier Development Council has standardized procedures to assure consistent and identical review and certification of minority-owned businesses. These businesses are certified by NMSDC's affiliate nearest to the company's headquarters. A minority-owned business is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by minority group members. "Minority group members" are United States citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American. Ownership by minority individuals means the business is at least 51% owned by such individuals or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members. |