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FREE Certification Through June 2025!
Get certified with OMWBE for FREE until June 2025! We waived certification fees through June of this year at OMWBE's 40th Anniversary event in September, 2023. We are thrilled to announce FREE Certification will continue for another year!
Since then, our Certification Team has cleared the backlog of pending business applications, improving our service to the diverse business community. We ask you to share news the far and wide with your networks, so other businesses can take advantage of this unique opportunity.
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Apply for Public Works Certification!
Public Works Small Business Enterprise (PWSBE) Certification is live! If you are seeking work on public works contracts, we encourage you to start your application now. An opt-in option is available for businesses that are currently certified with OMWBE.
"Public Works" refers to all work, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement paid for by state and local governments, public universities, and other public organizations. Public works projects include road construction, roof repair, HVAC upgrades, building remodeling, or parking meter installation.
View PWSBE eligibility requirements and apply on our website.
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OMWBE is planning a series of listening sessions throughout the state, to gather community input and identify areas to improve service delivery. If you are interested in participating, we encourage you to complete the Pre-Attendance Questionnaire below. Our team will be in touch, if you are selected to participate. Selections will be made based on industry representation, to ensure different business needs and points of view are captured in the listening sessions.
Selected businesses will receive $100 for lived experience compensation. This is a one-time flat-rate sum, using Washington's Community Compensation Guidelines.
La oficina de pequeñas empresas de minorías y mujeres del estado de Washington (OMWBE, por sus siglas en inglés) está llevando a cabo una serie de conversaciones con la comunidad en todo el estado para conocer la opinión de la comunidad e identificar áreas para mejorar el servicio y ayudar a aumentar la participación y el éxito de las pequeñas empresas propiedad de minorías y mujeres en la contratación gubernamental.
Si está interesado en participar, le invitamos a completar el cuestionario de asistencia localizado abajo. Nos pondremos en contacto con usted si eres seleccionado para participar. Las selecciones se realizarán en función de la representación de la industria, para garantizar que se capturen las diferentes necesidades y puntos de vista en las conversaciones comunitarias.
Las empresas seleccionadas para participar recibirán una sola compensación de $100 por su tiempo y experiencia de acuerdo con la Política de
Compensación por Experiencia Vivida.
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Washington State Department of Agriculture anticipates awarding approximately $2 million in reimbursement style grants this spring.
The purpose of the Local Food System Infrastructure Grant program is to support local food supply chains and market access for farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. The intention is to fund projects that expand and strengthen collaboration across linkages in the regional food supply chain. This includes planning, equipment, and facilities that support on-farm post-harvest handling, aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, distribution, and sale of Washington grown, caught, and raised foods.
WSDA is accepting applications through April 17, 2024.
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Impact Washington is offering small manufacturers across the state the opportunity to have up to 80 hours of direct consulting / training at no cost to the manufacturers.
In this endeavor, Impact Washington is ready to assist multiple small manufacturers (up to 20 employees) across the state. While the Small Manufacturers Growth and Support Program is focused on assisting the traditionally underserved companies, all manufacturers are encouraged to apply.
Application are open until April 30, 2024 or until all funds are allocated.
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Join Black-Owned Business Excellence (BOBE WA) for an engaging and insightful panel discussion that brings together Black entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders. You'll delve into the complexities of pricing strategies, share real-world experiences, and explore ways to overcome pricing obstacles. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just starting out, this event is designed to empower you with actionable insights.
Who should attend?
- Black business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Professionals interested in pricing strategies.
- Supporters of Black-owned businesses.
- Anyone passionate about economic equity and empowerment in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, network with like-minded individuals, and elevate your pricing game.
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If you're a woman running a small business, you know that it can be both empowering and challenging. You have to make many decisions related to your business and its finances – but you still can’t forget your own financial health. Working to grow and manage your business and planning for your personal financial future is important to meet your financial goals but presents challenges. The good news is that help is available!
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), joined by the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership, and America Saves, is hosting a free webinar to help women small business owners improve your financial security with information on:
- Key considerations for women small business owners and resources available to help
- Retirement savings options available for small businesses and how to get started after choosing a plan
- Tax advantages of different retirement saving options and how they can benefit both you and your employees
- How to encourage your employees to save in your retirement plan
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Join Scarsella and Hamilton to learn about opportunities on three WSDOT design-build projects.
- SR 167 Phase 2a (Scarsella with KPFF)
- SR 169/SR 509 Fish Passage (Scarsella with Parsons)
- SR 16 McCormick & Goodnough Fish Passage (Scarsella and Hamilton with Parsons)
This event is a great chance to connect with their teams and learn more about working with them and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Register now to secure your spot!
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On March 5, 2024, a Texas federal judge issued a ruling about the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the sole federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises. This ruling states that the MBDA may not presume social disadvantage based upon race without sufficient evidence of discrimination. Therefore, the MBDA can no longer limit programming to minorities the agency presumes to be disadvantaged.
The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) and Washington State Department of Transportation Office of Equity and Civil Rights (WSDOT) are hosting a joint listening session to hear concerns and answer questions from the diverse business community.
When: Thursday, May 9 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Virtual on Microsoft Teams
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Are you considering starting a business? The Washington State Small Business Guide is here to help!
This free Guide provides links to valuable resources, and outlines the steps for starting and operating a business in the state of Washington and is available in ten languages. The guide is produced and supported by the Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT) which consists of representatives from 27 agencies. Their mission is to listen to businesses, then drive action to make it easier to do business in Washington State.
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New Certifications
80 businesses obtained OMWBE certification in March! We share these monthly lists of newly certified firms with our contract and procurement contacts at State Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education.
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