OMWBE Certifications - Why they're important and how to obtain them

CertificationsState ContractingPreparing for Event

Information

This workshop is a part of our workshop series "Preparing for Public Projects w/The Interstate Bridge" and will focus on all things you need to know about certifications with the Office of Minority & Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE), the official certifying agency for Washington state businesses.

You will learn:

  • The importance of certification
  • Specific eligibility requirements
  • How to get started with the certification process for both state and federal
  • State Certifications (MBE, WBE, MWBE, CBE, SEDBE)
  • Federal Certifications for US Department of Transportation (DBE, SBE, ACDBE)
  • How to ensure a smooth application process
  • About the new Public Works Small Business Enterprise (PWSBE) Certification

This will be an online 1 hour presentation with 30 minutes available for Q&A

Primary Instructor: Elia Mendoza - OMWBE Small Business Development Manager

Brought to you by: Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) and WA APEX Accelerator Advising


Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE)214The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certifies small businesses owned and controlled by minority, women, and socially and economically disadvantaged persons. OMWBE certifies business in order to increase contracting opportunities for certified businesses with state and local governments. In addition to certifying businesses, OMWBE provides support services for state certified businesses in navigating their state certification and to experience the benefits of being certified with OMWBE. Per state law, OMWBE annually reports spending by state agencies and educational institutions with certified minority- and women-owned businesses. OMWBE also reports state agency spending with veteran-owned firms certified by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and businesses registered in WEBS as Small by the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). OMWBE participates in the Subcabinet on Business Diversity which promotes equity in the procurement of state contracts with private businesses. This is done through a variety of implementation strategies, from developing the roadmap to contracting equity, to community of practice, to informing the newly unveiled Executive Order 22-01 (Executive Order for Equity in Public Contracting).