Saint Paul WBE, MBE, SBE Program

The program summary on this page was last updated on 06/08/2018. If any of the information or links are out-of-date, please contact us.

If you are woman-owned (WBE), minority-owned (MBE), and/or small business (SBE) in the Saint Paul area, you may be able to participate in the city's Vendor Outreach Program (VOP).

Through the VOP, companies can become certified as an MBE, WBE, and/or SBE, which gives them an edge when it comes to competing on city contracts. Each year, the city establishes MBE, WBE, and SBE contracting goals, and one way they achieve these overall goals is by implementing goals on individual contracts. Companies bidding on City of Saint Paul projects with the goals as prime contractors are, in turn, required to make a good faith effort to include MBE, WBE, and SBE certified businesses on the contract.

Firms that want to become certified as a MBE, WBE, or SBE can do so through the city's Central Certification (CERT) Program. Applications can be completed online. Certification last for three years and can be renewed upon their expiration.

Does this certification expire? The term of certification is for three years, after which a firm must apply for recertification to retain the certification. Periodic reviews, in addition, must take place no fewer than every three years.

Get Certified

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