Qualifications for New York State MWBE Certification

To qualify for New York State certification as a minority and/or women-owned business enterprise (MWBE), an applicant must successfully demonstrate the following:

All applicants:

  • All firms seeking MBE, WBE or MWBE certification must be owned, operated and controlled by minority members and/or women.
  • The ownership must be real, substantial and continuing, and the minority members and/or women must exercise the authority to independently control the day-to-day business decisions.
  • Each minority or woman who has an ownership interest in the firm must have a net worth which does not exceed 3.5 million dollars. This calculation should not include the ownership interest in the applicant firm, the primary residence of the owner(s), and $500 thousand of present cash value of any qualified retirement savings plan, or individual retirement account held by the individual less any penalties for early withdrawal.
  • The firm cannot exceed 300 employees. 
  • The firm must operate independently of other firms.
  • Generally, the business must be in operation for at least one year.

 

All out-of-state applicants:

  • Out of state applicants should be certified as a MWBE in their home state, if a similar process exists, before applying for MWBE certification in New York State.
  • All applicants must have “Authority to do Business in New York State” from the New York Department of State prior to submitting an application for MWBE certification.

 

Definition of a Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

  • Under Article 15-A of the Executive Law, a WBE is a business enterprise in which at least fifty-one percent (51%) is owned, operated and controlled by citizens or permanent resident aliens who are women.

 

Definition of a Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

  • Under Article 15-A of the Executive Law, an MBE is a business enterprise in which at least fifty-one percent (51%) is owned, operated and controlled by citizens or permanent resident aliens who are meeting the ethnic definitions listed in the chart below:

 

Group

Definition

Black

Persons having origins from any of the Black African racial groups.

Hispanic

Persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, Central or South American descent of Either Indian or Hispanic origin, regardless of race.

Asian-Pacific

Persons having origins from the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands.

Asian-Indian Subcontinent

Persons having origins from the Indian subcontinent.

Native American

Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.

 

 

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