West Virginia Small Business Association™ enables business owners to give purchasing managers,
contractors, lenders, customers, and others business partners evidence their company is owned by one of more minorities1
and is registered with Minority Owned Business Certification. Minority business owners are receiving more opportunities from government and Corporate America;
greater visibility in media; and gaining leadership roles throughout society. West Virginia Small Business Association™ Business Certification verifies
the certification status of up to 2.8 million West Virginia-registered companies and is the most transparent certification offered in the state of West Virginia.
Requirements for Minority Owned Business Certification1
- 51% or more of the ownership interest in the company must be by a member of a "Socially Disadvantaged Group", as defined by the Small Business Act.
Eligible "Socially Disadvantaged Groups" are defined as:
- Black Americans (African Descent).
- Hispanic Americans
(persons with origins from Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries).
- Native Americans
(American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, or Native Hawaiians).
- Asian Pacific Americans
(persons with origins from Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia (Kampuchea), Vietnam, Korea, The Philippines, U.S.Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Republic of Palau), Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Samoa, Macao, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, or Nauru).
- Subcontinent Asian Americans
(persons with origins from India, Pakistan,Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands or Nepal).
- Company must be registered in the State of West Virginia.
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Reasons for Certification |
- Establish Company Image & Reputation
- Solicit Community & Peer Recognition
- Exhibit Company Pride & Honor
- Publicize Company Ownership Structure
- Distinguish Oneself from Competitors
- Be a Role Model for Minority Youth
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Certification Package Includes |
- West Virginia Small Business Association™ Certification Number
- Signed Letter of Certification
- Certification Certificate
- Certification Seals & Decals
- 24-Hour Online Verification
- 24-Hour Cellular Phone Verification
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West Virginia Small Business Association™ Minority Owned Business Certification does not require audited financial
statements; no classroom or course attendance; no minimum years in operation; and no
"on-site examination" of your company's office is required. Minority Owned Business Certification is extremely beneficial for new companies, home-based businesses,
established firms, or any other minority-owned organization as marketing used to generate customer interest and potential clients.
APPLY FOR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION
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Diversity Among Fortune 500 CEOs
West Virginia Small Business Association™
Minority Owned Business Certification |
42% of West Virginia Business Owners Were Born Outside of the U.S.A. |
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