WEBINARS FROM WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION WEEK providing flexibility to recipients of federal funding in establishing and providing opportunities for DBEs , and assisting DBEs in their business development to enable them to successfully compete for contracts outside of the DBE program .
The federal government ’ s current goal is to annually award at least 5 % of all federal contracting monies to women-owned small businesses . Getting certified provides increased access to networking and federal contracting opportunities , and allows Women-Owned Small Businesses ( WOSB ) to become eligible for mentor-protégé opportunities .
Agencies and organizations that can assist with federal DBE and WOSB certifications include :
U . S . Small Business Administration ( SBA )
National Association of Women Business Owners ( NAWBO )
National Women Business Owners Corporation ( NWBOC )
U . S . Women ’ s Chamber of Commerce
The various federal , state and local certification programs dovetail with the goals of the Alameda County Project Stabilization Community Benefits Agreement ( detailed separately in this issue ), which seeks in part to improve access to construction training and employment opportunities for county residents and small business enterprises .
A video of this informative webinar can be viewed online .
Additional helpful certification resources :
View Norcal APEX Accelerator ’ s webinar on How to get DBE Certified
SBA information on how to get WOSB certified .
Getting certified with CPUC
Find your local California Procurement Technical Assistance Center ( PTAC )
Women ’ s Business Enterprise Council
State and local agencies typically have their own certification programs to improve contracting access for underrepresented business owners . The Supplier Clearinghouse certifies minority , women , disabled veteran and LGBT-owned business for the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC ) and 16 major utility companies . Once certified , your business is listed in a CPUC database accessed by participating utilities .
FIRST QUARTER 2024 CTAP CONTRACTOR REPORT - 17