Minority Entrepreneur

Minority and Woman Owned Business Resources

If you are a minority or woman-owned business, you may qualify for certifications that can increase marketing opportunities for developing supplier relationships with larger companies and the public sector.

Business Certifications

Many governments have programs for certifying minority and emerging businesses as qualified to participate in disadvantaged business enterprise programs. Many of these entities will promote business opportunities and provide technical assistance and capacity building resources to small firms.

HubZone

The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program establishes preferences for awarding federal contracts to small businesses located in a HUBZone

Government:

The following governments and organizations have certification programs: 

• Wisconsin Procurement Institute 
• Small Business Administration HubZone Program
• State of Wisconsin Dept. of Administration MBE Program
• State of Wisconsin Dept. of Commerce Minority Business Development
• Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation DBE Program
• Wisconsin Supplier Development Council (WSDC) 
• Milwaukee County Emerging Business Program 
• City of Milwaukee Emerging Business Program 

Non-Government:

• Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District (MMSD) SWMBE Program
• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
• Comparison of various Wisconsin Business Certification Programs (Chart)