Information about the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program 2021

2021

Certifying My Business as a Kentucky Minority & Woman-Owned Business

Chris Cribbs, State Specialist for Entrepreneurship

There are a number of minority and women-owned businesses in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that are missing out on critical assistance by not certifying their businesses as a Kentucky Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE). Certification will provide assistance in growing a business, expanding a business, competing for work in Kentucky, and competing for work in states outside of Kentucky. Certification is meant to help level the playing field for minority and women-owned businesses.

To note, government institutions, universities, school systems, and major corporations have implemented Supplier Diversity Programs. These programs establish goals for the company or organization to award a percentage of their business to minority and woman-owned businesses.

• What are the requirements to be certified? According to the Kentucky Minority Women Business Certification Program, certification requires:
• The business must be 51% majority owned by women or racial or ethnic minority group members who are U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents.
• The current racial or ethnic minority and women owners:
• must have owned and operated the business for at least one full year.
• must have filed a federal business tax return consisting of one full year.
• The business:

• The business:
• must be independently owned and operated and located in the United States.
• must have been continuously operating for at least one year.
• An out-of-state business:
• must be currently certified by its home state.
• must have a physical onsite review conducted by its home state within the last three years.

Where may I find an application and instructions? Kentucky Minority & Women Business Certification Program webpage: https://mwbe.ky.gov/Pages/appapproval.aspx