In June, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation began sessions on how to boost business growth. Growth can be measured in a number of ways, but of course, at the end of the day, business should be measured in profits, and being able to do business with government entities is a step in the right direction.
There are several certifications that I would like to obtain at some point, and I will tell you about my experience step by step.
In this installment, we'll be talking about Go-DBE. The Governor's Office of Diverse Business Enterprises (Go-DBE) is the state of Tennessee's certifying agency that helps businesses compete successfully to sell to the Tennessee government. You're probably wondering, what can you sell to the government? You can sell anything! Food, services, products, and much more.
This certification aims to expand significant economic opportunities for small business-owned enterprises, including businesses owned by minorities, women, people with disabilities, and disabled veterans.
Where to start?
First, you have to decide which category you want to apply for, since you can only choose one:
Minority Owned Enterprise (MBE)
Women Owned Enterprise (WBE)
Persons with Disabilities, Disability Business Enterprise (DSBE)
Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (SDVBE)
Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
What are the requirements?
The business must be independently owned and operated.
The business owner must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
It must be a for-profit enterprise that performs a commercially useful function.
The business must be in operation for a minimum of two (2) years to qualify for certification.
Applicants must submit the majority owner's most recent federal tax return (including all schedules) to verify ownership and control.
Companies must be resident in the state of Tennessee and located within Tennessee's borders, or provide a certification from their home state or a nationally recognized diversity certification.
Burden of Proof of Allocation: Applicants bear the burden of proof regarding their eligibility to meet program guidelines.
Change of Ownership: Certified businesses must notify Go-DBE of any change in ownership, business name, contact information, or location information within 10 days of the change. Businesses must submit a new registration application for changes to critical certification information. Go-DBE may request additional information on a case-by-case basis. If you fail to inform Go-DBE of material changes to ownership information, Go-DBE may remove you from its directory of certified businesses.
Change to products or services offered: Businesses wishing to add, remove or change their UNSPSC codes for initially registered products or services must update their Edison profile and complete a change request with Go-DBE.
Control: An owner seeking certification must demonstrate actual and substantial control over the daily operation of the business. The majority owner must demonstrate a general understanding of the managerial, technical, and financial competencies and experience directly related to the type of industry in which the business is engaged. All documentation submitted must support the diversity member's ability to control the daily operation of the business.
The process
The process consists of two parts:
Edison Number Guest (tn.gov ) To complete the Go-DBE application, you need to have your Edison number.
Go-DBE Governor's Office of Diversity Business Application ( diversitysoftware.com )
What do you need?
That will depend on how your company is set up, but here is a link for you to use as a guide:
Tip:
Speak up! You are not alone. Even though the process is in English, you can find representatives who speak your language and can guide you through the process. Don't hesitate to schedule 1-on-1 consultations, and don't wait for time to pass. If you don't hear back within 7 days, pick up the phone or send an email.
If you have any questions, please seek help directly from Go-DBE or the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation at 615-216-5737 and they will guide you on the right path!
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