MBES

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification with the GMSDC is an essential first step in cultivating relationships with corporate supply chains and positioning your company to compete for contract awards. Corporations and governments all across the state look to the GMSDC for qualified and capable minority business partners. Are you certified?

BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION

Certification provides invaluable business resources to ethnic minority owned businesses:

• Georgia’s top corporations look to the GMSDC first for diverse suppliers
• Certified MBEs have ongoing access to corporate executives, buyers and decision-makers
• Many corporate procurement opportunities are available only to certified suppliers
• Certified MBEs have access to exclusive ‘member-only’ benefits
• GMSDC events and activities included networking and match making activities designed to help you meet potential business partners and build relationships
• Sponsorship, committee participation and leadership roles provide increased visibility
• GMSDC Academy trainings and programs are only available to certified MBEs
• MBE certification is nationally recognized by the NMSDC network, facilitating the possibility of opportunities outside of Georgia

CERTIFICATION CRITERIA

To become a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, your business must meet the following requirements:

• Majority ownership (51%) by one or more qualifying ethnic minorities
• Day-to-day operations and control of the business by ethnic minority owners
• Owners must be US citizens
• Ethnic minority owner holds the highest executive position in the company (CEO, President, Chairman, Principal, etc.)
• Headquartered in Georgia.
• The company is a for-profit business. Non-profit organizations are not eligible for certification.

ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE DEFINED AS:

• Asian Pacific – Origin in Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Marinas Islands, Laos, Kampuchea (Cambodia), Taiwan, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia.
• African American
• Hispanic – Citizens with origin in Spain or Portugal are NOT eligible
• Native American – American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts and Native Hawaiians
• Asian Indian – Origins in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

STEP ONE

• Attend pre-certification informational session – register on the Events Page
• Complete application
• Submit all requested documentation

STEP TWO

• Application review by GMSDC
• Field audit – site visit to applicant’s office
• Certification committee and board review

STEP THREE

• Notification
• MBE orientation
• Industry group engagement

The Certification Application is completed via the NMSDC Central online portal.

• The application process will take about fifteen (15) minutes to complete. You will be requested to upload required documents based on your business structure.
• A document entitled ”Declaration of Minority Status” is required to be downloaded, signed and then uploaded to complete your application.
• All payments must be made online.
• Initial Certification Application Fee is $600 and $400 for Re-certification each year. Subscription Services for certified MBEs from affiliate councils outside of Georgia is $500.
• Paper applications are no longer accepted.
• Please click here for a detailed explanation of the certification process.
• Once an application is submitted, the certification process requires 45 to 90 business days for completion.
• Application Fees are Non-Refundable.
• ALL CLAIMS OR DISPUTES ARISING OUT OF THE MBE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, WHETHER THE INITIAL DENIAL OR AFTER AN APPEAL, BETWEEN YOU AND GMSDC WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH BINDING ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT (FAA), TITLE 9 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, AND ARBITRATION RULES. YOU AGREE, UNDERSTAND AND CHOOSE BINDING ARBITRATION INSTEAD OF LITIGATION TO RESOLVE ALL CLAIMS. BY PROCEEDING WITH THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, NEITHER YOU NOR GMSDC WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE A CLAIM IN COURT WITH RESPECT TO THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
• The arbitration shall take place in Fulton County, Georgia. In the event this agreement to arbitrate is found to be invalid and/or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, any and all claims arising out of the MBE certification process shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Georgia, Fulton County judicial district, and shall be tried without a jury.

MBE INPUT COMMITTEE

The GMSDC Industry Groups were created as a means to leverage strengths and encourage interaction between participants within industry categories. These groups include Information Technology, Professional Services, Real Estate and Facilities Services, Staffing, Transportation and Logistics and Governmental Affairs. GMSDC Industry Groups benchmark top performers and share pivotal industry and market trends with one another. Meeting topics can include any subject that is of interest to the attendees or of benefit to the MBEs in that market segment.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Build relationships and share your organization’s message and opportunities with our world-class MBEs and Corporate Members. We have numerous sponsorship opportunities throughout the year for signature events and more.

To secure your sponsorship, please contact:

Sonji Franklin, Director of MBE Services

Event Information

Event Information

About GMSDC

The GMSDC is the state of Georgia’s leading advocacy organization for small business development and supplier diversity. Our primary focus is simple – to certify Minority Business Enterprise firms, help them prepare to engage global supply chains, and then facilitate partnerships with corporations and governments in need of their goods and services.