MBE Certification
TSMSDC has a proven track record of successfully connecting minority-owned businesses with major purchasers. Our extensive network and robust programs are designed to foster real growth and opportunities. We’ve helped numerous MBEs secure contracts. and grow their businesses, and we’re ready to help you too.
Find Opportunities and Connections through MBE Certification
TSMSDC provides invaluable support to minority-owned businesses by facilitating access to corporate procurement opportunities, financial resources, and a powerful network, fostering equitable growth and success.
- Access to corporate procurement officials and contracts
- Opportunities to network with major purchasers
- Programs that help build your business capacity
Eligibility Criteria for MBE Certification
To become a certified minority-owned business, you must meet certain eligibility criteria set by TSMSDC. These criteria ensure that the business is owned, operated, and controlled by individuals who belong to minority groups.
- The firm must be a for-profit business (Non-profit organizations are not eligible for certification)
- The 51% qualifying applicant(s) must be an ethnic minority (African American, Hispanic, Asian Pacific (Islander, Asian Indian, Native American)
- The 51% qualifying applicant must be a US Citizen
- The highest executive position within the firm must be held by the ethnic minority owner(s) who holds a majority ownership in the firm. (Chairman, CEO, President, Managing Member, etc.)
- The firm applying for certification may not be a holding company* (A holding company is a company created to buy and possess the shares of other companies, which it then controls.)
- The firm applying for certification with TriState MSDC must be headquartered in our service territory (TSMSDC services Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia)
New Certification/Re-Certification Fees
Class 1: <$1M
Class 2: $1M-$9.9M
Class 3: $10M-$49.9M
Class 4: $50M+
Certification
Applying for MBE Certification: A Step-by-Step Guide
To become MBE certified, follow these steps to ensure a smooth application process.
Step 1: Start MBE Certification
Step 2: Complete Application
Gather required documents and complete the Online MBE certification application form accurately.
Step 3: Application Review
Submit the application along with all necessary supporting materials for review by a Certification Specialist.
Step 4: Schedule Site Visit
Certification Specialist will schedule a date to visit applicants business facility to conduct an on-site review.
Step 5: Committee Review
Certification Specialists presents information collected to Certification Committee at monthly meeting. Certification Committee will make recommendation to TSMSDC Board to either approve or deny certification.
Step 6: TSMSDC Board Review
TSMSDC Board reviews certification applications and recommendations from Certification Committee; and approves or denys certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the MBE certification process, requirements, and benefits.
Pursue the NMSDC certification, as well as federal & local certifications for minority-owned businesses. However, if a business wants its operation to be formally recognized as a minority-owned business or enterprise, it should seek to get an official certification. This shows first that the business is credibly established and second that it is ready to work with large public and private entities.
MBE certification is the gold standard for minority-owned for-profit businesses, and it is the certification that NMSDC has offered for its more than 50-year history. It requires that businesses are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by qualified minority group members. A qualified minority group member is a U.S. citizen who is at least 25% Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, or Native American*. Minority eligibility is established via a combination of document reviews, screenings, interviews, and site visits. Ownership, in the case of a publicly owned business, means that at least 51% of the stock is owned by one or more qualified minority group members. The process to join NMSDC includes an application, a review of your business, payment of a certification fee (amount varies by location) and extensive onboarding to help you learn about the benefits available to your business. Many government agencies and private companies set aside a portion of their contract budgets for multicultural and diverse-owned businesses to promote diversity. Certification could help you secure contracts that grow your business.
*a tribal card and a blood degree certificate must be provided for Native American certifications.
TSMSDC offers a wide range of opportunities that help certified MBEs with visibility and access to America’s largest and most influential companies worldwide by increasing their overall growth and success.
Yes, TSMSDC can connect businesses to capital resources. Access to capital is crucial for the formation and growth of small businesses, serving as the lifeblood that fuels their success. Unfortunately, minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs) often face challenges in obtaining the necessary capital to thrive. The relationship between access to capital and access to contracts is symbiotic for MBEs. Both are essential for their survival and growth. However, these vital resources do not always come at the same time. MBEs frequently struggle to secure the funding they need, both during the startup phase and in the years that follow. It is imperative that TSMSDC continues to address the disparities in access to capital faced by MBEs to ensure their success in the competitive business landscape. By providing support and resources to help MBEs overcome these challenges, TSMSDC can foster a more inclusive and thriving business environment for all entrepreneurs.
Established in 2001, the Global Link initiative played a critical role in the creation of partner organizations in Australia, Canada, China, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. In 2023, we reignited and expanded the program and established partnership with India, Brazil, and Chile. These international partner organizations are a gateway for U.S.-based MBEs to meet international MBEs who may be potential partners to help them gain access to the global marketplace. We recognize that our nation-wide network of corporate members have a global reach and are pushing diversity initiatives to their locations around the world. The Global Link program assists our network corporate members in meeting their supplier diversity requirements overseas by promoting and building pathways to increase global spend.