Minority & Women-Owned Businesses

Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

The Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program is specifically designed to advocate and facilitate business growth and provide opportunities for historically underutilized businesses.

The Town of Wake Forest prohibits discrimination in any manner on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, handicap or sexual orientation and will promotes and conducts business with women and minority owned business enterprises.  The Town has adopted a goal of a minimum of 10% for minority participation. 

Benefits

1. Marketing tool which will increase visibility of your business

2. Be included in email notifications for bid opportunities or to attend pre-bid meetings.

3. Increased knowledge, greater access and linkage to resource networks that work to assist businesses

How do you qualify?

According to General Statute 143-128.2 (g) a “minority business” is defined as:

• At least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more minority persons or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The statute also includes corporations in which at least 51% of stock is owned by one or more minority or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

• The statute defines the term “minority person” as the following: Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian, Female

• A "socially and economically disadvantaged individual" is defined by reference to a federal statute (15 U.S. C. § 637). Socially disadvantaged individuals are "those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities". Economically disadvantaged individuals "are those socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same business that are not socially disadvantaged".

How do you get certified?

Certify with one or both of the following agencies:

1. NCDOA Officer for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) 

2. NCDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE)