The Corporate Alliance Program
In addition to their government contractor certification, The M/WBE Program has launched the Corporate Alliance Program (CAP), an initiative that will connect City-certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises to contracting and capacity-building opportunities in the private sector. The CAP program will match certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises with private contracts, provide corporate skills training, and training for with the private sector. Read more about the program
2011 M/WBE Leadership Association
Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises can also get certified to bid on government contracts. ACCION USA is proud to be a member of the 2011 M/WBE Leadership Association, a group of business service organizations helping the New York City Department of Small Business Services promote and foster the growth of local minority and women-owned businesses through M/WBE contractor certification and capacity-building services.
Benefits of certification include:
- Increased opportunities to bid on city contracts, increase capacity, & contribute effectively to the local economy
- Invitations to exclusive networking events
- Free advertising in a searchable online directory, an excellent vehicle for promoting M/WBE businesses to purchasers
- Free one-on-one guidance on M/WBE opportunities to sell to the government
- Access to business classes taught by industry professionals
- Entrance into the Corporate Alliance Program - access to corporate mentors, availability of private contracts, corporate skills training
Are you eligible to apply for certification? To qualify, the business must:
- Be actively in operation for at least one year
- Be authorized to do business in New York State.
- Be at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or a member of a recognized minority group, including Black, Hispanic, Asian-Pacific, Asian-Indian who are US citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens
- Be located within the five boroughs of NYC or in one of 8 surrounding counties: Nassau, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester in New York; or Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic in New Jersey. Businesses located outside of New York City must have a significant tie to the City's business community (e.g., have derived 25% or more of gross receipts from business conducted in the City, possess a license issued by the City, etc.).
- The business' legal structure must be one of the following: Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Limited Liability Company or Corporation. Not for Profit businesses are ineligible.
Do you meet the requirements? Take the following steps to establish M/WBE certification: 
- Get registered: Any business that wants to do business with the City of New York must register with the Vendor Enrollment Center. Log on to www.nyc.gov/selltonyc to complete the Vendor Enrollment Application. Please be advised that it normally takes several weeks after registering to receive your FMS Vendor Number.
- Get certified: Attend a free M/WBE Certification Prep Course every 3rd Thursday of the month from 2-4pm, or every 4th Wednesday of the month from 6-7:30pm. Trained certification analysts will be available to walk you through the application process and help you avoid common mistakes. Register online
In addition to certification assistance, ACCION USA provides small business financing and credit development services.