State of Ohio Business Certifications

Helping your business

Get Certified Is what we do

Along with the MBE/EDGE Research and Reporting Unit, the Department of Administrative Services unit is responsible for helping implement the state’s procurement preference programs for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, which are the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) programs. This unit certifies businesses into both the MBE and EDGE programs, helps maintains a list of MBE and EDGE certified businesses, and ensures that certified businesses are in compliance with the programs.

Join Today

Certified

Getting Started with the
Ohio Business Gateway

Applying for Certifications:

To apply for the MBE, EDGE, WBE, and VBE programs, visit the Ohio Business Gateway electronic filing system.

Visit Website

State Tools for Business:

Information about starting, managing, and growing your business in Ohio.

Visit Website

MBE / EDGE Business Tool Kit:

Tools to help you make the most of your MBE/EDGE certification. 

Visit Website

State of Ohio Certifications

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

The State of Ohio’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program is designed to assist minority businesses in obtaining state government contracts through a set aside procurement program for goods and services.

  • Fast Track (MBE)

For MBE fast track certification information, review the content under the “Steps for MBE Certification” section by going here. 

Encouraging Diversity Growth & Equity (EDGE)

The State of Ohio recognizes the need to encourage, nurture and support the growth of economically and socially underutilized businesses to foster their development. The EDGE Program provides an “EDGE” to small businesses by Encouraging Diversity Growth and Equity in public contracting. EDGE is an assistance program for economically and socially disadvantaged business enterprises.

  • Fast Track (EDGE)

For EDGE fast track certification information, review the second paragraph under “Steps for EDGE Certification” by going here. 

Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise Certification (VBE)

The State of Ohio’s Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services.

  • Apply for VBE Certification

The State of Ohio’s Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services.

Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Program

The State of Ohio’s Women Business Enterprise (WBE) program is designed to assist women-owned businesses in obtaining contracts for goods and services, construction, architecture, engineering, information technology, and professional services. The WBE program does not apply a procurement goal or set-aside target for state government contracts. The State of Ohio developed the program because it recognized the need to encourage, nurture and support the growth of women businesses to foster their development and increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace.

  • Apply for WBE Program

Details for applying for the WBE program can be found here. 

Doing Business with the State of Ohio:

Make sure you are registered in OhioBuys. This is where all open market & MBE Set-Aside solicitations are posted.

Go to website page.

  • Bidders & Suppliers can review information on navigating the state procurement processes at Go to website page.

 

You should also review the MBDD Brochure with Funding & Program Information

Download Brochure.

  • Shaundretta Boykins, Manager of Business Development & Entrepreneurship, is the finance subject matter expert. She can assist you with all of the available funding sources listed on the MBDD Brochure link above.
  • Contact your Local MBAC for business counseling assistance.
  • For assistance preparing bids for potential local, state and federal contacts you may contact our APEX Accelerators (Department of Development). This program offers help to Ohio Businesses so they can compete for and win federal, state and local government contracts Go to website page..  Joseph Scott is the program manager and can be reached at Joseph.Scott@Development.Ohio.gov.

Helping your business

Get Certified Is what we do

Along with the MBE/EDGE Research and Reporting Unit, the Department of Administrative Services unit is responsible for helping implement the state’s procurement preference programs for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, which are the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) programs. This unit certifies businesses into both the MBE and EDGE programs, helps maintains a list of MBE and EDGE certified businesses, and ensures that certified businesses are in compliance with the programs.

Join Today

MBAC

Applying for Certifications:

To apply for the MBE, EDGE, WBE, and VBE programs, visit the Ohio Business Gateway electronic filing system.

Visit Website

State Tools for Business:

Information about starting, managing, and growing your business in Ohio.

Visit Website

MBE / EDGE Business Tool Kit:

Tools to help you make the most of your MBE/EDGE certification. 

Visit Website

State of Ohio Certifications

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

The State of Ohio’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program is designed to assist minority businesses in obtaining state government contracts through a set aside procurement program for goods and services.

  • Fast Track (MBE)

For MBE fast track certification information, review the content under the “Steps for MBE Certification” section by going here. 

Encouraging Diversity Growth & Equity (EDGE)

The State of Ohio recognizes the need to encourage, nurture and support the growth of economically and socially underutilized businesses to foster their development. The EDGE Program provides an “EDGE” to small businesses by Encouraging Diversity Growth and Equity in public contracting. EDGE is an assistance program for economically and socially disadvantaged business enterprises.

  • Fast Track (EDGE)

For EDGE fast track certification information, review the second paragraph under “Steps for EDGE Certification” by going here. 

Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise Certification (VBE)

The State of Ohio’s Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services.

  • Apply for VBE Certification

The State of Ohio’s Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services.

Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Program

The State of Ohio’s Women Business Enterprise (WBE) program is designed to assist women-owned businesses in obtaining contracts for goods and services, construction, architecture, engineering, information technology, and professional services. The WBE program does not apply a procurement goal or set-aside target for state government contracts. The State of Ohio developed the program because it recognized the need to encourage, nurture and support the growth of women businesses to foster their development and increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace.

  • Apply for WBE Program

Details for applying for the WBE program can be found here. 

Getting started with the ohio business gateway.

Play Video

Doing Business with the State of Ohio:

Make sure you are registered in OhioBuys. This is where all open market & MBE Set-Aside solicitations are posted.

Go to website page.

  • Bidders & Suppliers can review information on navigating the state procurement processes at Go to website page.

 

You should also review the MBDD Brochure with Funding & Program Information

Download Brochure.

  • Shaundretta Boykins, Manager of Business Development & Entrepreneurship, is the finance subject matter expert. She can assist you with all of the available funding sources listed on the MBDD Brochure link above.
  • Contact your Local MBAC for business counseling assistance.
  • For assistance preparing bids for potential local, state and federal contacts you may contact our APEX Accelerators (Department of Development). This program offers help to Ohio Businesses so they can compete for and win federal, state and local government contracts Go to website page..  Joseph Scott is the program manager and can be reached at Joseph.Scott@Development.Ohio.gov.

Helping your business

Get Certified Is what we do

Along with the MBE/EDGE Research and Reporting Unit, the Department of Administrative Services unit is responsible for helping implement the state’s procurement preference programs for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses, which are the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) programs. This unit certifies businesses into both the MBE and EDGE programs, helps maintains a list of MBE and EDGE certified businesses, and ensures that certified businesses are in compliance with the programs.

Join Today

Applying for Certifications:

To apply for the MBE, EDGE, WBE, and VBE programs, visit the Ohio Business Gateway electronic filing system.

Visit Website

State Tools for Business:

Information about starting, managing, and growing your business in Ohio.

Visit Website

MBE / EDGE Business Tool Kit:

Tools to help you make the most of your MBE/EDGE certification. 

Visit Website

State of Ohio Certifications

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)

The State of Ohio’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program is designed to assist minority businesses in obtaining state government contracts through a set aside procurement program for goods and services.

  • Fast Track (MBE)

For MBE fast track certification information, review the content under the “Steps for MBE Certification” section by going here. 

Encouraging Diversity Growth & Equity (EDGE)

The State of Ohio recognizes the need to encourage, nurture and support the growth of economically and socially underutilized businesses to foster their development. The EDGE Program provides an “EDGE” to small businesses by Encouraging Diversity Growth and Equity in public contracting. EDGE is an assistance program for economically and socially disadvantaged business enterprises.

  • Fast Track (EDGE)

For EDGE fast track certification information, review the second paragraph under “Steps for EDGE Certification” by going here. 

Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise Certification (VBE)

The State of Ohio’s Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services.

  • Apply for VBE Certification

The State of Ohio’s Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services.

Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Program

The State of Ohio’s Women Business Enterprise (WBE) program is designed to assist women-owned businesses in obtaining contracts for goods and services, construction, architecture, engineering, information technology, and professional services. The WBE program does not apply a procurement goal or set-aside target for state government contracts. The State of Ohio developed the program because it recognized the need to encourage, nurture and support the growth of women businesses to foster their development and increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace.

  • Apply for WBE Program

Details for applying for the WBE program can be found here. 

Doing Business with the State of Ohio:

Make sure you are registered in OhioBuys. This is where all open market & MBE Set-Aside solicitations are posted.

https://ohiobuys.ohio.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage

 

 

 

You should also review the MBDD Brochure with Funding & Program Information

https://development.ohio.gov/static/business/minority/09012022-MBDD-Brochure.pdf

  • Shaundretta is the finance subject matter expert. She can assist you with all of the available funding sources listed on the MBDD Brochure link above.

 

  • Aminata can help you contact your Local MBAC for business counseling assistance.

 

  • For assistance preparing bids for potential local, state and federal contacts you may contact our APEX Accelerators (Department of Development). This program offers help to Ohio Businesses so they can compete for and win federal, state and local government contracts https://find.govcontracts.ohio.gov/about/.  Joseph Scott is the program manager and can be reached at Joseph.Scott@Development.Ohio.gov.