Get Certified: Women Owned Small Business Certifications Program

Get Certified: Women Owned Small Business Certifications Program is a five week course designed for women small business owners in the contracting industry. The course will include education, hands-on training, and mentorship.

The goal is to position female entrepreneurs in the DC area to pursue corporate, federal and regional government contracting opportunities, utilizing salient certifications, such as a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), EDWOSB, and as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) - per the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Thirty-five participants will receive a 100% subsidy to pay for their WBENC Certifications. To qualify, a participant needs to complete this course and have their documents ready for submission to WBENC.

When certified as a WBE via the WBENC, a business gets access to supplier diversity and procurement executives at hundreds of major U.S. corporations and federal, state, and local government entities that accept WBENC Certification. WBENC is the gold standard in diversity certification. WBEs have access to formal and informal opportunities to pursue business with Corporate and Government Members, as well as with other WBENC-Certified WBEs.

They are eligible for regional and national recognition and awards, have use of Women Owned Logo and Women’s Business Enterprise Seal as a marketing tool to promote their business and expand their company’s visibility and have access to a community of support from other female business owners and like-minded professionals all dedicated to the growth and success of women-owned businesses.

Each training session will be held every other Wednesday, starting July 6th, 2022 from 12:00 – 2:00pm on the Zoom platform.

Session Topics will include:

Session 1: Overview of Course, How and Why to Get Certified, Is Certification Right for Me? - July 6th 12:00pm

Session 2: WBENC Application and Documentation, Document Intake Workshop - July 20th 12:00pm

Session 3: Corporate Supplier Initiatives and Certified Women Business Enterprises - August 3rd 12:00pm

Session 4: We are Certified, Now What? - August 17th 12:00pm

Session 5: Federal and Local Government Contracting Opportunities and the Importance of Certifications - August 31st 12:00pm