Blog

One year ago, everyone in the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) was operating at warp speed, working to get every T crossed and I dotted in time for the July 1, 2009, rollout of the Statewide Uniform Certification Program (SWUC).

A year later, we still haven’t quite caught our collective breaths, but nearly 2,000 HUB firms have been certified by this office, significantly reducing the need for them to request certification with multiple local agencies.

There are several categories for HUB certification, but a company must demonstrate that at least 51 percent of the business is owned, operated and managed by a minority, female or person with a disability. Currently, there are about 3,700 HUBs certified in Vendor Link, the database used by all public entities for identifying HUB firms.

We have heard from the construction community that having a statewide certification database has made it easier for them to identify HUB firms for various construction-related projects.  Additionally, I believe HUB firms appreciate the reduced number of certifying agencies, as well as the four-year certification cycle that SWUC provides.

Our second year of implementation will focus on fine-tuning our processes to shorten the review of and response to certification applications. We also anticipate conducting more site visits to help us make a better determination as to whether an applicant meets the eligibility criteria.

Helping HUB businesses succeed is not only good for their bottom line, but also helps to boost the state’s economy by creating new jobs and maintaining existing ones. We at the HUB Office consider it a truly great job to be part of this.

Two years ago, I attended a meeting in Kansas City with minority and women business program directors from across the country.  Everyone there was like me – glad to finally meet our counterparts from various states and amazed to discover so many more program directors striving to do good things to assist firms in their states.

We all spoke about how unfortunate it was that there was no formal national association of state minority, women and disadvantaged executives, a group that could meet annually or bi-annually to discuss best practices, spotlight new initiatives and sponsor professional development for those of us in this industry. Well, that day has finally come.

Last week, the National Association of State Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/W/DBE) Directors officially incorporated to promote business development among minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises in communities and states throughout the United States.

I am proud to have been asked to serve as Vice-Chair of the inaugural board. The experience will allow me to bring the best ideas and initiatives from other states back to North Carolina, where their potential can be considered by the HUB Office, the N.C.  M/WBE Coordinators’ Network and other key partners.

My colleagues, in turn, have expressed interest in our Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC) Program and other efforts to improve opportunities for HUB firms to participate in state contracts. I look forward to demonstrating the leadership our state has shown in these and other areas as I collaborate with peers to help create a national climate that supports HUB firms.

The Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses typically relies on established business practices to facilitate opportunities for minority-, disabled- and women-owned businesses in North Carolina. But the new demands of the Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC) program led us to try a new method of communications:  the webinar.

While not without a few technical glitches, the three webinars presented by HUB staff in recent weeks provided exceptional and cost-effective access for business owners, vendors and contractors statewide to receive free training without having to travel or even leave their workplace. Hundreds of individuals registered for the events, which we understand were viewed at desks, common areas and conferences rooms in office environments across the state.

The format may not have been ideal for all participants, but we received positive feedback about the ease of joining the online training, and the ability to interact by submitting questions or comments by phone, fax or email. We also heard good things about the improved function of Vendor Link, which can generate flexible bidder lists to enable businesses to connect with target audiences.

I am especially grateful to my staff – and specifically Lena Ridley, who gamely embraced the opportunity to develop this entirely new training module – for their dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes to assist our HUB firms and partners statewide.

HUB Office Director Bridget Wall-Lennon (center), Certification Specialist Sheryl Cromedy (left) and host Vallonda Calloway open the Sept. 24 SWUC Program webinar.

Twenty years ago, as an employee of the Charlotte Minority Business Development Center, I was responsible for planning the local Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week activities.  I am still involved in MED Week activities, but now from the perspective of an advocate on the statewide level. 

MED Week was initiated in 1983 by presidential proclamation to celebrate the accomplishments of minority entrepreneurs and businesses.  National MED Week will be observed Aug. 26-28 in Washington, D.C. 

While Governor Perdue declared August as Minority Enterprise Development Month in North Carolina, minority business resource agencies and advocates across the state have planned special activities that are scheduled through October.  As we have done for the past decade, the HUB Office will support local MED Week activities currently planned in Fayetteville, Asheville, Raleigh and Durham by serving as facilitators or presenters in various workshops, seminars and awards functions.

MED Week activities are essential events for the minority business community. I know firsthand the hard work that goes into planning them, so I applaud the minority business resource agencies for the time and hard work that goes into planning MED Week activities. As the 2001 National MED Week Advocate of the Year Award recipient, I consider it a privilege to remain involved in this important undertaking. I am proud of the HUB Office’s historic support of this initiative and our continued role in promoting minority business development throughout the year.

Historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) across North Carolina have a reason to celebrate. Effective Wednesday, July 1, they can participate in the state HUB Office’s new one-stop shop for official HUB certification.

The new Statewide Uniform Certification (SWUC) program eliminates the need for HUBs to be certified by multiple agencies in order to compete for state and local government contracts. Developed in collaboration with local Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) offices, it will streamline the certification process and reduce the redundancy in certifying minority- and women-owned businesses.

In addition to increasing efficiency and service to the HUB community, SWUC will establish a centralized database for state agencies, local municipalities and contractors looking to identify and utilize HUB vendors and sub-contractors.  In doing so, SWUC also allows local M/WBE offices – which were instrumental in fine-tuning this program – to focus on providing resources and business development services.

I would like to recognize the N.C. M/WBE Coordinators’ Network as a major collaborator in advocating for SWUC. It was the vision of two of its pioneers, the late John Mills and Dr. Elizabeth Mills, who in the late 1980s planted the seed for the vision of moving North Carolina towards statewide or uniform certification.  

The HUB Certification Specialists are available to help HUB firms register. For information, visit our website or email huboffice.doa@doa.nc.gov.

North Carolina business owners were understandably optimistic when they heard the state would receive $6.1 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) is working to ensure that minority-, women-, disabled- and disadvantage-owned businesses will enjoy an equal opportunity to participate in providing state government with the goods and services it requires. 

To help level the playing field, Governor Perdue recently signed Executive Order 13, which tasks the HUB Office with assisting certified HUB firms in identifying and obtaining ARRA contract opportunities. As with all state government contracts, the aspirational goal for goods and services is 10 percent (by dollar amount) of purchasing to be derived from HUB firms. 

The HUB Office will collaborate with the N.C. Office of Economic Recovery and Investment and other state agencies to ensure that HUB firms are actively engaged in this endeavor. We also will partner with local, regional, and non-profit economic development organizations to support outreach and assistance to HUB firms, and to encourage state and local governments to make full use of our online database of certified HUB firms.

As always, our Certification Specialists are working with HUB firms to increase awareness of contract opportunities with the various state agencies, as well as provide outreach and training to help them succeed in this competitive market.