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Step
One: Getting Started (continued)
Programs and Resources for Minority
and Women-Owned Businesses
 Minority
and women-owned businesses do not have to face their unique challenges
alone. Federal, state and local government agencies; private corporations;
and associations and clubs offer programs and services to assist them.
Minority and female entrepreneurs may increase the odds of successfully
operating their businesses by finding out about these special incentives
and programs and participating in them. Some of the programs and resources
are listed below. If you require additional information about programs
for minorities and women, please contact the Virginia
Department of Minority Business Enterprise.
Programs
The following are some of the programs designed to
help minority and female business owners succeed:
Federal Programs for Minority
and Women-Owned Businesses
The 8(a) Business Development Program
 The
SBA created the 8(a) Business Development Program to help small, disadvantaged
businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement
market. It gives businesses owned by economically or socially disadvantaged
individuals an advantage when bidding on Federal contracts. Black Americans
are classified as "socially disadvantaged" by the SBA and
are automatically eligible to apply for the 8(a) program.
The SBA 8(a) Business
Development web site lists the following benefits of the 8(a) program:
- Participants can receive sole-source contracts,
up to a ceiling of $3 million for goods and services and $5 million
for manufacturing. While SBA helps 8(a) firms build their competitive
and institutional know-how, the agency also encourages them to participate
in competitive acquisitions.
- Federal acquisition policies encourage Federal
agencies to award a certain percentage of their contracts to SDBs.
To speed up the award process, the SBA has signed Memorandums of Understanding
(MOUs) with 25 Federal agencies allowing them to contract directly
with certified 8(a) firms.
- Recent changes permit 8(a) firms to form joint
ventures and teams to bid on contracts. This enhances the ability
of 8(a) firms to perform larger prime contracts and overcome the effects
of contract bundling, the combining of two or more contracts together
into one large contract.
Forms for 8(a) Business Development
and Small Disadvantaged Business Certification are included with this
CD and may be accessed by clicking on the links below:
The 8(a) Business Development Mentor-Protege
Program and
The Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Certification Program
 The
SBA offers two additional business assistance programs for small, disadvantaged
businesses (SDBs). These programs are the the 8(a) Business Development
Mentor-Protégé Program and the Small Disadvantaged
Business (SDB) Certification Program. Companies which are 8(a) firms
automatically qualify for SDB certification. For more information about
the SDB Program, please
click here. For more information about the 8(a) Business Development
Mentor-Protégé Program, please
click here. For relevant forms, click here.
If you have additional questions regarding the 8(a)
Business Development Program, including specific questions regarding
how to apply to participate in the program, or if you would like additional
information on the SDB Certification Program or the 8(a) Business
Development Mentor Protege Program, please contact the Virginia
Department of Minority Business Enterprise.
Virginia's Business Programs for Minorities and Women
MBE Certification
The Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) provides certification
for businesses wishing to participate in Virginia's Minority Business Programs. Once certified as
a minority-owned business, your business will be eligible for greater contracting opportunities
with state and local governments. For more information, contact the Virginia Department of Minority
Business Enterprise at: 200-202 North 9th Street, 11th Floor, Richmond, Virginia 23219; 1-800-223-0671
(Virginia Only); (804) 786-6585; E-mail: dmbe@dmbe.virginia.gov; web site: http://www.dmbe.virginia.gov/.
For more information about forms provided by the MBE related to certification, please
consult the MBE web site at: http://www.dmbe.virginia.gov/.
SWAM Certification (Source: Virginia
Department of Minority Business Enterprise web site)
The SWAM Program is a Commonwealth of Virginia Program
to support small, women and minority businesses in doing business
with State Government agencies. SWAM stands for Small, Women, And
Minority businesses. The corresponding certification is SBE, WBE,
or MBE. When your company is certified, your company name appears
in eVA as a preferred vendor.
Becoming a Certified SWAM Vendor has four steps:
1) Complete the Online
Application.
2) Print out the completed application form and get it notarized.
3) Collect the supporting documentation on the checklist.
4) Send the notarized Application form and the supporting documents
to:
Department of Minority Business Enterprise
200-202 North 9th Street, 11th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
If you want more details about how your application will be processed,
click on the Evaluation Procedures link below. If you have questions
about SWAM, check the Frequently
Asked Questions page. To preview the checklist of supporting documents
required, click on the Checklist link below.
The Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council Certification
The Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council
also has a certification program. For more information, please view
its web
site.
State Procurement Opportunities
Information on state procurement opportunities is also available on-line at the EVA web site at: http://www.eVA.virginia.gov. eVA is Virginia's
business-to-government Web-based e-procurement tool.
Resources
Below you will find information on resources for minority
and women-owned businesses:
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Center for Entrepreneurial Development at the Community
College Workforce Alliance
The Community College Workforce Alliance offers a variety of programs
through the Center for Entrepreneurial Development for individuals who
are considering starting a small business, or for entrepreneurs who
wish to enhance their business skills.
http://www.ccwa.vccs.edu/smbus.cfm
Verizon Entrepreneurial Resource Center,
AdvanTech,
501 E. Franklin St.,
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804)521-4320
Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense &
Education Fund, Inc. (MBELDEF)
MBELDEF's mission is to defend, advocate, and promote domestic and
international
policies affecting equitable and full participation of minority enterprises
in the local, regional,
national, and global marketplace.
http://www.mbeldef.org/
419 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-289-1700 Fax: 202-289-1701
Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC)
The goal of the AABDC is to assist Asian-owned businesses to compete
in the mainstream marketplace.
http://www.aabdc.com/aboutaabdc.asp
general.info@aabdc.com
150 Lafayette Street, Suite 901
New York, NY 10013-3116
Phone: 212-966-0100; Fax: 212-966-2786
National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)
NAMC is a non-profit trade association established in 1969 to
address the needs and concerns of minority contractors.
http://www.namcline.org/
mail@namconline.org
666 11th Street, NW, Suite 520
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: 202-347-8259, Fax: 202-628-1876
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
NAWBO represents the interests of all women entrepreneurs in all
types of businesses.
http://www.nawbo.org
national@nawbo.org
1595 Spring Hill Road, Suite 330
Vienna, VA 22182
Phone: 703-506-3268 or 800-55-NAWBO; FAX: 703-506-3266
National Minority Supplier Development Council,
Inc. (NMSDC)
The NMSDC seeks to provide a direct link between corporate America and
minority-owned businesses.
http://www.nmsdc.org/
(See Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council
below)
PolicyLink
PolicyLink is a national nonprofit research, communications, capacity
building, and advocacy organization. Its goal is economic and social
equity.
http://www.policylink.org/default.html
info@policylink.org
101 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 663-2333, Fax: (510) 663-9684
The Virginia Minority Supplier
Development Council (VMSDC)
The primary purpose of VMSDC is to promote and facilitate the development
of business relationships between its members and certified minority-owned
enterprises. The goals of VMSDC are to expand business opportunities
for minority-owned companies and to help build a stronger, more equitable
society by supporting and promoting minority business development.
http://www.vmsdc.org/
Bank of America Center
1111 East Main Street, 3rd Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 780-2322 / Fax: (804) 780-3171
Regional office: Tidewater Virginia (757) 823-4587
wikiHow
wikiHow is a web site which provides a variety of how-to manuals. If you are hoping a start non-profit organization,
you may find its manual titled How to Start a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization helpful.
http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-501c3-Nonprofit-Organization.
Private Organizations
The Market Segment Group
The Market Segment Group is the leading research group specializing
in multicultural markets. Consultants assist clients in preparing for,
planning, and developing Multicultural and other targeted Marketing
Programs.
http://www.marketsegment.com/
info@marketsegment.com
201 Alhambra Circle, Suite 804
Coral Gables, FL 33134
phone: 305-669-3900, fax: 305-669-3901
Government Organizations
U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development
Agency (MBDA)
The MBDA encourages minority business development. It identifies private
markets and capital sources for minority businesses; expands business
information and business services through trade associations; promotes
and supports the mobilization of resources of Federal agencies and State
and local governments at the local level; and assist minorities in entering
new and growing markets.
www.mbda.gov
help@mbda.gov
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20230
phone: 1 (888) 324-1551
 U.S.
Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization (OSDBU)
The mission of the OSDBU is to promote customer satisfaction through
successful partnerships that result in an inclusive and effective small
business procurement process. It provides a variety of initiatives encouraging
policies to expand opportunities for all businesses, especially small,
women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses.
http://osdbuweb.dot.gov/index.html
400 7th Street, S.W., Room 9414
Washington, DC 20590
Telephone: (800) 532-1169 or (202) 366-1930
FAX: (202) 366-7538
U.S. Small Business Administration,
8(A) Business Development
The SBA administers two particular business assistance programs for
small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs). These programs are the 8(a) Business
Development Program and the Small Disadvantaged Business Certification
Program. While the 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to
socially and economically disadvantaged firms, SDB certification strictly
pertains to benefits in Federal procurement. Companies which are 8(a)
firms automatically qualify for SDB certification.
http://www.sba.gov/8abd/
Richmond, VA District Office
400 North 8th Street
Federal Bldg., Suite 1150
Richmond, VA 23240
(804) 771-2400
U.S. Small Business Administration, Loan Programs
The SBA offers many loans to small businesses and also serves as a guarantor
of loans made by private and other institutions. For a snapshot of SBA
loan programs, please
click here.
Richmond, VA District Office
400 North 8th Street
Federal Bldg., Suite 1150
Richmond, VA 23240
(804) 771-2400
U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Women
Business Ownership (OWBO)
OWBO provides various programs and assistance to women business owners.
http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness
owbo@sba.gov
409 Third Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20416
Phone: 202-205-6673 or 800-8-ASK-SBA
Virginia Community Development Loan Fund (VCDLF)
The VCDLF provides access to entrepreneurial training, technical assistance
and loan capital to those entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional
resources. VCDLF also has a special loan program for those small or
minority Business that provide services or products to Capital One with
the intent to expand the program to other similar projects in the future.
Preference is given to those businesses that provide services in conjunction
with the West Creek Campus Project.
www.vcdlf.org
email: vcdlf@earthlink.net
1624 Hull Street/ Richmond, VA / 23224
phone: 804-233-2014 / fax: 804-233-2158
The Virginia Department of Business Assistance (VDBA)
The VDBA is devoted to the growth and success of the Commonwealth's
business community. It maintains a list of resources for minority-owned
businesses. Information for minority-owned businesses is available at: http://www.vdba.virginia.gov/mwbusinesses/.
http://www.vdba.virginia.gov/
707 E. Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, Virginia 23219
phone: (804) 371-8200, fax: (804) 371-8111
Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise
(VDMBE)
The mission of the VDMBE is to provide leadership in encouraging , promoting
and coordinating public and private sector initiatives designed to improve
the performance and economic conditions of minority businesses. The
VDMBE accomplishes this by offering assistance to minority entrepreneurs;
disseminating bid notices, training, and instruction; promoting procurement
opportunities; providing financial/technical assistance; and developing
strategic partnerships.
www.dmbe.virginia.gov
200-202 N. 9th Street, 11th Floor/ Richmond, VA / 23219
phone: 804-371-6228 / fax: 804-371-7359
| Additional Helpful Links for Minority and
Women-Owned Businesses(return
to top) |
|
Regional
Links
Center for Entrepreneurial
Development at the Community College Workforce Alliance, Verizon
Entrepreneurial Resource Center, AdvanTech, 501 E. Franklin St.,
Richmond, VA 23219;
(804)521-4320;
e-mail: businessinfo@ccwa.vccs.edu
http://www.CCWAsmallbusiness.com
Virginia Links
Center for Entrepreneurial
Development at the Community College Workforce Alliance, Verizon
Entrepreneurial Resource Center, AdvanTech, 501 E. Franklin St.,
Richmond, VA 23219; (804)521-4320;
e-mail: businessinfo@ccwa.vccs.edu
http://www.CCWAsmallbusiness.com
Community Organization
for Minority Economic Development (COMED)
(434)846-2778 (no web site found)
eVA: Virginia's business-to-government
Web-based e-procurement tool
http://www.eVA.virginia.gov
Small Business
Administration
http://www.sba.gov/va
Virginia Department
of Business Assistance
http://www.vdba.virginia.gov/smdev/
Virginia Department
of General Services
http://www.dgs.virginia.gov/
Virginia Economic
Development Partnership
http://www.yesvirginia.org
Virginia Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce
http://www.vahcc.com
National Links
Government
Minority Business
Development Agency (U.S. Dept. of Commerce)
http://www.mbda.gov/
The National Black
Chamber of Commerce
http://www.nationalbcc.org/default.asp
Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov
Small Business Administration,
Minority Enterprise Development Hotlist
http://www.sba.gov/hotlist/minor.html
United States Department
of Commerce, Asian Pacific American Network
http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~hrmo/ap-links.htm
Associations
American Business
Women's Association
http://www.abwa.org/
Asian American Business
Assistance Center
14214 Washington Highway, Ashland, VA 23005 (no web site)
Center for Women's
Business Research
http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org
Feminist.com
http://www.feminist.com
Latin American Chamber
of Commerce
http://www.lacc1.com/right.html
Latin Business Association
http://www.lbausa.com/
Minority Business
Network
http://www.mbnet.com/default.asp
National Association
for Female Executives
http://nafe.com/
National Black MBA
Association
http://www.nbmbaa.org/
National Black Business
Council
http://www.nbbc.org/
National Minority
Business Council
http://www.nmbc.org/
U.S. Chamber of
Commerce
http://www.uschamber.org/default
U.S. Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce
http://www.ushcc.com
U.S. Women's Chamber
of Commerce
http://www.thewomenschamber.com
Women's Business Enterprise
National Council (WBENC)
http://www.wbenc.org
Commercial
Minority Business
Entrepreneur
http://www.mbemag.com/
Multicultural Advantage
http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/default.asp
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