The Platform at Greer's June Huddle was all about eliminating barriers. Our speaker was Jeanette Brewster, the program director at Village Launch. Jeanette led us in a discussion about additional challenges women, minorities, and disadvantaged founders face along their entrepreneurial journey.
Many people in our community have told us about an avenue they've explored to open doors that had previously been closed to them. They've shared that registering with the government as a small business and/or getting certified as woman-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, or as a disadvantaged business enterprise unlocked new opportunities.
(Note: Lots of links coming up in this post!)
There are many organizations that offer these certifications, but most people we have talked to have recommended starting with ones that are free or low-cost. One female founder told us she started by registering with SAM.gov because it allowed her to seek contracts with the federal government. It was also a requirement for her initial goal, which was to be nationally-certified as a woman-owned business. She got that certification through Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
Several people in our community recommended starting the certification process with South Carolina's Small & Minority Business Contracting & Consulting division (SMBCC). A Bootcamp grad told us that an agent with the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) was her lifeline through the certification process. She told us SBDC broke down the requirements in layman's terms and held breakout sessions on certifications.
A lot of people in our community have been certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with the Department of Transportation. This certification is a "gateway" of sorts to doing business with the government as a contractor or supplier.
Many large corporations such as Milliken and BMW have robust supplier diversity programs. Certifications are not required by all of these programs, but we're told it definitely makes the process easier. BMW's annual Supplier Diversity XChange event is coming up on August 29.
SCORE is an organization that provides resources and mentorship for entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. In our research for this event, we came across SCORE For All, a hub to connect diverse founders to a wealth of resources. We came across a several videos and webinar recordings that talk about supplier diversity programs and walk entrepreneurs through the certification process.
Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (CVMSDC) and Women Business Enterprise Council (WBENC) can also be good resources for founders interested in supplier diversity programs. They provide certifications that some corporations like to see.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is another valuable resource. Local representatives are available to help. You can also check out the SBA's Certification Hub that is full of good info. Some founders who have the Woman-Owned Small Business certification (WOSB) are now eligible for a one-year extension. SBA put recently released some information on who qualifies for the extension. SBA also offers assistance and certification for entrepreneurs who are veterans.
South Carolina's APEX Accelerator offers training and assistance for small and large businesses hoping to get work as a government contractor. There's a great resource hub on their website that includes info on grant opportunities and many other topics.
We're still learning about these opportunities and would love to pass along good resources. Reach out if you have any we should add!