who can participate in Business Connect?

local

Business Connect is open to businesses located in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area region that are certified as one or more of the following:

• Minority-owned (MBE)
• Women-owned (WBE)
• Disabled veteran-owned (DVBE)
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBTBE)

certified

To qualify for participation in Business Connect, each business must be 51% owned by a minority, woman, disabled veteran, lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender individual or business. For more information on certification, please visit our certifying partner’s websites:

• Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC)
• Minority-owned business enterprises (MBE)
• Astra Women’s Business Alliance (Astra)
• Women-owned business enterprises (WBE)
• California Department of General Services (DGS)
• Disabled veteran-owned business enterprises (DVBE)
• The Supplier Clearinghouse
• MBE, WBE, DVBE, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-owned business enterprises (LGBTBE)*.

*LGBT Business Enterprises are Certified by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) in partnership with the Golden Gate Business Association.

qualified

Businesses must also be an established and capable provider of one or more of the goods or services to be detailed in the Business Categories section of the program guidebook.