How to Become Certified as a Minority Woman-Owned Business Enterprise in Minnesota
While there is not one specific registration for a minority woman-owned business in Minnesota, it is possible to obtain minority owned business certification. A woman-owned business classification is also available through business registration. These classifications can be critical if you are planning on bidding on government jobs or contracts.
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Instructions
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Register with the SBA (Small Business Administration). This is a federal registration, and the codes for your specific business are needed in order to register at the state level.
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Register as a vendor with the state of Minnesota. Once you have this number, you can register for TG/ED (targeted groups/economically disadvantaged) status. Both women and minorities qualify as targeted groups in Minnesota. Three types of businesses are automatically disqualified from the TG/ED program: third-party lessors, brokers and franchises.
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Obtain certification through NWBOC (National Women Business Owners Corporation). This company provides a national certification stating that a company is woman owned. This certification can be very helpful at local levels. The Twin Cities offers a program called MEDA (Metropolitan Economic Development Association), which is targeted directly to ethnic minorities who own or manage a business. This association was started in 1971, and continues to provide an excellent resources for minority businesses.
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Tips & Warnings
Check community colleges and universities for other small business resources. Often, they have more information on lesser known opportunities. Also, they usually offer their services free of charge, as they are subsidized by the educational institution and the federal government.
References
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