Did You Know?
State vs Federal Certification
Which is better for your business, state or federal certification? We are asked this all the time and the answer is both! It depends on your field and how you plan to use certification. If you plan to work on contracts with federal funds (for example, highway construction projects) your business definitely needs federal certification. Businesses paid with state funds (for example, building services or consulting) or that want to have a loan in the Linked Deposit Loan Program should have state certification. The best news is that you can apply for both at the same time. Start with the federal certification application and on the first question click yes to add the state.
Help with Applications and more is Always Available
We are here to be of service. We recently compiled all of the questions we receive in a month and there were 247 questions in addition to the regular assistance we give. We always look forward to helping you, even if it means connecting you with another agency to get the right answer. If you have any questions about OMWBE certification or our website, please use our contact page or call us directly at 360-664-9750 or 866-208-1064. We also offer free telephone interpretation services available in 240 languages and dialects--just let us know. If you are in Olympia and would like assistance in person, visit us!
More Banks Explore Linked Deposit Loan Program
We actively promote the Linked Deposit Loan Program and this spring we saw an increase in bank questions regarding how to participate in the Linked Deposit Loan Program. This means more banks in the area are looking at how to help small business owners with this program. If you have wondered about how Linked Deposit might help you, visit the program page for more info.
The Subcabinet has an Action Plan to deliver real and sustainable results to increase use of small minority, women and veteran owned businesses in state government agencies. OMWBE plays a vital role in the progress of the disparity study, including the management and operation of a community of practice that crosses state agencies.
Community of Practice:
• Nine of 10 community of practice action teams identified by the Subcabinet have launched. They include, Master Contracts, Public Works and Outreach, among others.
• There are currently 10 recommended best practices to increase diverse spending that have been put before the Subcabinet Workgroup for approval.
• We will launch a Community of Practice website in the fall for state government contracts and procurement teams to have access to the Subcabinet approved best practices and tools.
Use the Event Calendar for Networking
We keep the calendar up to date with as many trainings and networking events as possible. A networking event hosted by a prime/general contractor or government agency can be a great place to learn about new opportunities, meet colleagues and promote what your business can do. Don’t forget to come to events with your capabilities statement showing your OMWBE certification.
