Illiinois Certifications
Obtaining the right business certifications for your enterprise is crucial to gaining access to both government and corporate contracts. Certifications provide your business with a nationally recognized and highly respected status that makes your company stand out against marketplace competition for lucrative contracts. This allows you to compete more successfully for federal, state, local government and commercial contracts.
Illinois accepts/recognizes the following certifications:
- Women-Owned Business (WBE);
- Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB);
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB);
- Minority-Owned Business (MBE);
- Small Business Administration 8(a) Development Program;
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE);
- Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE);
- Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB);
- Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB);
- HUBZone Business;
- Small Disadvantaged Business (SBE)
Illinois also has their own state and local certifications to include specific ones for the City of Chicago; the Female Business Enterprise (FBE) Program; and the Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise (PBE) Program. The state also has several FastTrack programs if you are certified by the City of Chicago or Cook County.
The Illinois Department of Central Management Services also has a Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Certification which allows for diverse businesses to compete as sub-contractors as they are in the process of obtaining their MBE, FBE or PBE certifications.
Getting a certification opens the door to targeted government and private contracting opportunities. This will allow your business to have more visibility to Illinois companies and opportunities with the State of Illinois. For more resources, visit the Business Enterprise Program.
Here are the basic qualifications for most of the certifications:
- The business must be at least 51% managed and controlled by either a women, minority, or disadvantaged owner who:
- Works exclusively for the firm seeking certification
- Has superior level of experience in the industry
- Holds the highest title as specified in the operating agreement/bylaws
- US Citizen (or for some certifications – a Green Card holder (legal permanent resident)
- Must be a for-profit business
If you are an established business ready to take your business to the next level, BizCentral USA can help you get certified. Since 2004, BizCentral USA has helped thousands of businesses get certified and gain more connections. Working with an experienced expert means doing it right the first time, which means FASTER approval so you can start applying for contracts sooner.
Not an established business? No problem. We have a Pre-Certification Program that can help prepare you to become certified.
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