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Information about the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program

2021



# Overview of Minority and Women Business Certification

Sherita Miller, Minority Business Enterprise Liaison, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

Christopher Cribbs, State Specialist for Entrepreneurship

Would you like to increase your financial bottom line with government contracts? Would you like to obtain business development resource assistance at no cost? Would you like to be a certified business at no cost to you? Once your business is formally recognized as a minority-owned or woman-owned business, you will have access to federal, state and local government contracts and the economic resources that can help your company grow. You will receive one-on-one counseling, training workshops, management and technical guidance. In addition, minority-owned and woman-owned businesses that become certified under Small Business Association (SBA) (8)a Business Development guidelines can leverage this assistance and certification to compete successfully for federal government contracting opportunities.

There are several certifications available to minority and woman-owned businesses through government and third party entities. Below are a few certifications to consider.

Kentucky Minority and Women Business Enterprise Certification Program

The Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification Program encourages growth among Kentucky businesses owned by women and minorities and assists those businesses with expanding their markets.

http://mwbe.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification Program

The Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) certificate inspires minority-owned and woman-owned businesses to bid on highway construction, improvement, and maintenance projects in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.



http://transportation.ky.gov/Civil-Rights-and-Small-Business-Development/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Small Business Administration Woman-owned Small Business (WOSB)

The WOSB certification helps provide a level playing field for women business owners. The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the WOSB Federal Contracting Program.

https://www.sba.gov/federal-

 contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/women-owned-small-business-federal-contracting-program

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Economically Disadvantaged Woman-owned Small Business (EDWOSB)

The EDWOSB certification is specifically designed to level the playing field of economically disadvantaged woman-owned small businesses.

https://www.sba.gov/federal-

 contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/women-owned-small-business-federal-contracting-program

## Notes

- Applying for certifications can be time consuming in obtaining various documentations, evidence to substantiate minority status and experience. At times, there are 30-plus government contract proposal pages to read, and the specific list of bid criteria needed will consume a large amount of your business time.

Becoming certified doesn't guarantee government contracts.

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For more information, please contact

Sherita Miller

Minority Business Enterprise Liaison, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

859.258.3323 office

lexingtonky.gov