Become a Certified MBE

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification is a nationally recognized validation of your company’s status as a minority owned, managed, and controlled business.

Benefits of Certification

• National Certification recognized by private sector corporations, public agencies, and non-profit organizations
• Access to regional and national MSDC services
• Listing in the National MSDC database utilized by a vast number of corporations nationwide.

National MSDC Services:

• Discounted fees for registration at NMSDC national events
• Eligibility for participation in NMSDC development program

Northwest Mountain MSDC Services:

• Local, regional, and national referrals to member corporations and opportunities
• Educational programs and resources
• Training seminars and webinars
• Council email communications and events

Eligibility requirements for MBE Certification

1. The firm must be a for-profit enterprise physically located in the United States or its territories.
2. The firm must be 51% ethnic minority owned, operated, and controlled by a United States Citizen. NMSDC certifies the following minority groups: African-American, Hispanic-American, Native American, Asian Pacific/Indian American
3. The submission of all required documents. Northwest Mountain MSDC reserves the right to request additional information and/or documentation for purposes of determining eligibility for MBE Certification as per the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).

Application Process

1. Complete the online application and provide supplemental documents.
   You may find our instructional video helpful.
2. Pay the non-refundable application fee.
3. Desk audit review within 45 days.
4. Onsite visit with owner(s).
5. Certification committee review.
6. Final Board review for vote.

Renew your certification

Certified MBEs are required to re-certify annually in order to maintain certified status and remain listed in both local and national minority business databases.

• Step 1. Submit and upload the most recent Federal Tax Returns and Declaration of Minority Status with the updated application.
• Step 2. Pay the non-refundable application fee.
• Step 3. Desk audit review within 30 days.

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Application Fees / Recertification Fee

• Class I
  Annual Revenue: Less than $1 Million
  New Certification: $300
  Re-certification (Renewal): $250
• Class II
  Annual Revenue: $1-10 Million
  New Certification: $550
  Re-certification (Renewal): $500
• Class III
  Annual Revenue: $10-50 Million
  New Certification: $850
  Re-certification (Renewal): $800
• Class IV
  Annual Revenue: Above $50 Million
  New Certification: $950
  Re-certification (Renewal): $900

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Expedited service available: $800 + Application Fee + Any associated travel expenses

Questions? Contact Huda Al-musawi at halmusawi@nwmmsdc.org or call (253) 243-6959 ext. 109.

Access the right tools to grow your business and expand your professional network.

Every year, the Northwest Mountain MSDC develops its certified MBEs’ capacity for successful enterprise through educational programming and council events aiming to prepare MBEs to do business with corporate/public agency members.

Education Programs

Scholarship grants funded by donations received at Council events and fundraisers are available to Northwest Mountain MSDC certified MBEs to participate in the following executive level programs:

• “Minority Business Executive Program (MBEP)” at Foster School of Business, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (Learn More)
• “Building a High-Performing Minority Business” at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH (Learn More)
• “Growing the Minority Business to Scale” at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH (Learn More)

MBE Trainings and Development Programs

The Council encourages MBEs to take advantage of the various Council events and workshops offered throughout the year for networking and development opportunities. Past events have included:

• Achieving Excellent Culture Workshop
  A two-day intensive workshop on how to build a “high performance” organizational culture of success. The workshop focuses on topics such as growth, innovation, teamwork, accountability, positive change, great leadership.
• Preparing for Effective Engagement
  A three-part series working to build strong capabilities statements and introductory communications. Participants receive confidential feedback and constructive ideas to refine their capabilities statement and introductory communication. Learn to engage with Corporate/Public Agency Members with concise and compelling presentations. Having an effective capabilities statement at the core of your marketing plan builds a strong foundation for your marketing strategy and promotional campaigns.
• Building an Effective Marketing Process
  A three-part series designed to streamline branding, marketing, advertising and target market engagement. Open to corporate/public agency members to share best practices in publicity, marketing and advertising. Focus on the value of marketing, marketing budgets, effective branding, and how that ties into web presence, social media, advertising,  leveraging your network, and planning a successful campaign.

For more information on upcoming events and workshops, visit our Events page.

Questions? Contact Huda Al-musawi at halmusawi@nwmmsdc.org or call (253) 243-6959 ext. 109.

Certified MBEs around the nation can benefit from joining the Northwest Mountain Council.

Subscription to Council Services

Subscription services are available for any affiliate council certified MBEs who wish to have access to the unique relationships, capabilities, and industry expertise the Northwest Mountain MSDC has cultivated in our service area.

Services

• Networking events and opportunities
• Access to educational programs, events and trainings unique to Northwest Mountain MSDC
• Access to Council’s support
• Introductions and referrals to Council’s relationships
• Access to Northwest Mountain MSDC’s newsletters

Eligibility requirements for Subscription Services

• The business is a certified MBE within the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) network.
• Certifications must be current; applications will not be processed within 60 days of expiring from the home council.

A subscription service runs concurrently with the term of your MBE certification from your home council. It expires when your home council certification expires.

Subscription Services:

• Class I - Annual Revenue: Less than $1 Million
  MBE Subscription: $225
• Class II - Annual Revenue: $1-10 Million
  MBE Subscription: $400
• Class III - Annual Revenue: $10-50 Million
  MBE Subscription: $600
• Class IV - Annual Revenue: Above $50 Million
  MBE Subscription: $700

Questions? Contact Huda Al-musawi at halmusawi@nwmmsdc.org or call (253) 243-6959 ext. 109.

Build relationships with other trusted minority-owned business enterprises.

As an NMSDC-certified MBE, you are in the unique position to promote and market your services to prospective certified MBEs who are looking to build relationships with other trusted minority-owned businesses.

Benefits of the MBE2MBE Module:

• Centralized and most active data point for all NMSDC certified MBEs.
• Provides information for both MBE2MBE business ventures and certification in one database.
• Ability to search for other certified MBEs for potential collaborations.

To access this new feature, Opt-In in your NMSDC Central account.

Leverage your national capabilities and expand your participation in the NMSDC Network.

Corporate Plus® is an unprecedented membership program for NMSDC-certified minority businesses of the highest caliber who have demonstrated their capacity to execute national contracts for major corporations. This program was created to address corporate member requests for assistance in locating minority suppliers with the capacity to fulfill national contracts

The success of the Corporate Plus® program and member MBEs helps raise the level and perception of minority businesses to national prominence in corporate America.

Read more about the benefits of being a Corporate Plus member!