Business Certification
The Department of Economic Inclusion administers three business enterprise programs featuring five certification types. These programs expand opportunities for small, minority-, and women-owned businesses as both subcontractors and prime contractors on City projects. When reviewing an application, Economic Inclusion will consider all certification types a business may qualify for when evaluating a single application. Firms interested in qualifying for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) or Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certifications in addition to Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certification should submit the SBE required documents and upload an Affidavit of Ethnicity and Gender to the application as an additional document. Before applying online, review the eligibility requirements of each certification type below. Then, start your online application to review a list of required documents.
Program Benefits
- A bidder’s certification status is one factor in determining the lowest and best bid.
- A bidder’s plan to use certified firms to meet inclusion goals is a factor in determining the lowest and best bid.
- Certified firms are listed in the City’s public certified firms database.
- Preferences available to MBE/WBE bidders and respondents to City solicitations.
- Contracting advantages available to SBEs for contracts under $50,000.
- ELBE & SLBE certified firms are eligible to participate in designated sheltered markets.
Applications must be completed online.
Apply for MBE/WBE/SBE Certification
Eligibility Requirements
- At least 51% owned by defined minority group member(s) for at least one (1) year prior to applying for certification.
- Must have an operating office in Hamilton County or 25% of the firm’s total labor force must be domiciled in Hamilton County.
- Business must be in operation for at least one (1) year prior to applying for certification.
- Business must perform a Commercially Useful Function as defined by the Municipal Code.
- With narrow exceptions, the business must be owned exclusively by individuals.
- At least 51% women-owned for one (1) year.
- Must have an operating office in Hamilton County or 25% of the firm’s total labor force must be domiciled in Hamilton County.
- Business must be in operation for at least one (1) year prior to applying for certification.
- Business must perform a Commercially Useful Function as defined by the Municipal Code.
- With narrow exceptions, business must be owned exclusively by individuals.
- Average annual gross revenues not greater than size standards established by the Small Business Administration for the applicable industry.
- Must have had a Fixed Office in Hamilton County (as defined by the SBE Rules and Regulations) for at least one (1) year prior to applying for certification.
- Business must be in operation for at least one (1) year prior to applying for certification.
- Personal net worth of each owner and his or her spouse cannot exceed $750,000, exclusive of specified assets (equity in primary residence, retirement accounts subject to a significant withdrawal penalty, equity in the business for which they are applying).
- Each owner must be a citizen of the United States.
- Must have its principal place of business within the corporate limits of the City of Cincinnati (“Cincinnati”) for at least one (1) year prior to applying for certification.
- Average annual gross revenues of over the past three fiscal years of less than $1,000,000.
- Owners are actively involved in the day-to-day management and control of the business.
- Business must be in operation for at least one (1) year prior to applying for certification.
- Has had no more than 35 employees at any one time during the past three years.
- Owners cannot be owners or principals of another entity that does not meet the definition of an SLBE.
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Business cannot be owned in whole or in part by another business that does not meet the definition of an SLBE.
- Must have its principal place of business within the corporate limits of the City of Cincinnati (“Cincinnati").
- Has had no more than five (5) full-time employees at any point.
- Average annual gross revenues over the life of the business of less than $250,000.
- Owners are actively involved in the day-to-day management and control of the business.
- Owners cannot be owners or principals of another entity that does not meet the definition of an ELBE.
- Business cannot be owned in whole or in part by another business that does not meet the definition of an ELBE.
- Has been in existence less than five (5) years.
More information about certification programs and eligibility can be found on the department's Codes & Regulations page.