To become certified, each applicant goes through a detailed process that determines if the applicant is:

at least 51% owned,
managed and controlled by US citizen(s),
and operates an independent for-profit business.

It is strongly recommended to attend the MBE Pre-Certification Workshop that happens the last Wednesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at the CVMSDC offices. At the MBE Pre-Certification Workshop, the certification application is reviewed in detail along with the process and the documentation. Applicants have found that by attending the Pre-Certification workshop, they get through the process quicker and submit completed packets.

Please join us the last Wednesday of the month from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register HERE!

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Our Four Pillars

Certification

At the core of CVMSDC’s operations is, Certification of MBEs. This certification is widely accepted by national corporations and is a model used by various national government agencies as well. CVMSDC continues to grow its portfolio of qualified MBEs.

Development

CVMSDC has a two-pronged approach to develop and meet the needs of its two key stakeholders. For corporations, CVMSDC cultivates and maintains a highly qualified portfolio of MBEs. It also serves as a key advisor to many of these same corporations on their supplier development programs. For MBEs, CVMSDC helps build capacity, so that they are more competitive and better positioned to do business with corporate members.

Connection

CVMSDC serves as a bridge builder between its corporate partners and certified MBEs. MBEs that commit to being fully engaged in the networking process, established by the Council, can leverage the value derived through these networking opportunities, as well as the many business development opportunities presented in the form of RFPs / RFQs, strategic partnerships, expansive resources, and contracts.

Advocacy

CVMSDC promotes supplier development and advocates on behalf of its certified MBEs by providing unique access channels to opportunities that expose their capabilities and strengths to prospective buyers and procurement specialists.

Benefits

Certification offers minority suppliers the opportunity to connect face-to-face with many of America’s largest publicly-owned, privately-owned, and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals, and other buying institutions.

Leveraging our more than 35 years as an industry expert in Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) enrichment, development, and impact, CVMSDC offers certified minority suppliers support from technical trainings to exclusive buyer forums and corporate procurement events.

MBE Certification Benefits

Nationally-recognized Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification
Exposure to business opportunities through Local, regional, and national referrals of minority businesses to member corporations, as well as exposure to approximately 3,600 leading national companies.– more than 2/3 of certified MBEs confirm an increase in revenue by partnering with Corporate Members
Listings in the National MSDC supplier database, accessible by Corporate Buyers nationwide
Invitations to private networking, corporate matchmaking and procurement events for the opportunity to network with Corporate Members at Carolinas-Virginia MSDC events and activities.
Opportunities to compete for prestigious local, regional, and national supplier excellence awards
Access to educational trainings and systems that meet you where you are today and grow you to where corporations are attracted to you
Meet fellow MBEs to build relationships and find opportunities with other MBEs.

MBE Certification is conducted by the regional affiliate that supports your business’ home office. With NMSDC’s stamp of approval, your company has access to our national network and greater exposure to major multinational corporations around the world.

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Who Should Certify?

MBE Certification Criteria

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) must be a currently functioning for profit enterprise and physically located in the U. S. or its trust territories which:
- is an independent business concern that is at least 51% independently owned, managed and controlled by one or more minority group members
- demonstrates the capability to perform a line of business
- provides a commercially useful business function according to customs and practices of the industry
The controlling interest in a firm represented to be minority shall be by one or more CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. For the purposes of NMSDC’s program, a minority group member is an individual who is at least 25% Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native American.
- Asian-Indian: A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Asian-Pacific: A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
- Black: A U.S. citizen who is of African descent (excluding Northern Africa).
- Hispanic: A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only. Brazilians (Afro-Brazilian, indigenous/Indian only) shall be listed under Hispanic designation for review and certification purposes.
- Native American: A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number).
The minority ownership and control shall be real and continuing and not created solely to take advantage of special programs aimed at minority supplier development.
The minority owner(s) shall enjoy the customary incidents of ownership and shall share in the risks and profits and shall have contributed capital, equipment and/or expertise to the business commensurate with his/her percentage of ownership.
The contributions of capital or expertise by the minority owner(s) to acquire their interests in the firms shall be real and sustainable.
To be considered operational, applicant must be able to produce supporting documents to show the company is operational and not a hobby. (i.e. business receipts.)
The minority owner(s) shall possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the firm and shall possess the capability of making day-to-day as well as major decisions on matters of management, policy and operations of the firm. There shall be no restriction on the minority owner’s ability to control which would prevent the minority owner from making a business decision without the cooperation or vote of a non-minority person. Such control shall be known or at least tacitly acknowledged in day-to-day operations by employees and business references of the business. Where licenses are required to perform the functional mission of the company, such licenses shall be held in the name and/or independent control of minorities.
All securities which constitute ownership of a corporation for purposes of establishing it as a minority business enterprise shall be held directly by the minority owner(s). No securities held in trust or by any guardian for a minority shall be considered held by minority persons in determining ownership and control of the corporation.
Applicant must supply the Council with a copy of the documents (via Prism upload) requested on the Certification Application Checklist that apply to the type of business enterprise in which the Applicant is engaged. Incomplete applications cannot and will not be processed. The Council reserves the right to request further information from the Applicant prior to or during the certification process. All materials submitted shall be retained by the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council. The applicant further agrees to allow HMSDC representatives access to inspect the applicant’s place of business.
All funds are non-refundable. You have a maximum of 90 days to submit your documentation from the date of payment. If you do not submit the required documents, CVMSDC reserves the right to administratively withdraw your file from the process.

Our Process & Fees

Review the certification criteria and LLC Checklist or CS Corp Checklist to ensure that your business qualifies.

Collect the required documentation.

Complete the application online by clicking here Notarize the declaration, submit the payment, the application and documentation online. The payment information is listed below. For the tutorial document, click here.

The applicant will go through a desk audit. The desk audit is a review of the entire application and all supporting documentation. It is also during this stage where we contact your business references.

Once the desk audit is complete, the files goes into the site visit stage. The site visit is a personal visit to the applicant’s business to meet with principals and review certain documents to verify ownership, management and control functions. A report of the site visit is prepared and added to the file.

Your completed packet will be forwarded to the certification compliance committee in order for them to review and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors for action. The committee can make 1 of 4 recommendations:

Approval – Once approved, we invite the applicant to Post Certification Orientation, which is the mandatory MBE orientation where the applicant will receive its welcome letter, certificate and additional information about CVMSDC.
Approved Pending – The committee had a question or needed clarity on a document. Once received from the applicant, the MBE is approved.
Tabled – The committee did not have enough information to approve or deny the file, need clarity on information submitted, and they would like to review the file again once the information has been received.
Denial – The applicant did not meet NMSDC’s criteria. The applicant has 30 days to appeal the committee’s recommendation.

The Board of Directors review and vote on the committee’s recommendations. All letters are prepared for signature after the vote.

All applicants receive a written notification of their status within one week. Firms that are approved is granted certification that is good for 1 year and requires an annual renewal.

Subscription Services

The Carolinas-Virginia MSDC conducts an extensive business review of new and existing MBEs. This review, the Certification Process, is designed to ensure compliance with the NMSDC member standards for certified minority business status. Certification by the Carolinas-Virginia MSDC is a nationally recognized NMSDC Certification and has the capability of nationwide expansion through Subscription Service Status.

Advocacy
Certification
Discounted registration to NMSDC national events
Eligibility for NMSDC development programs
National Referrals
Post Certification Briefing
Supplier Database Inclusion and Access
Access to business opportunities in NC, SC, central/eastern/western VA
Industry group participation
Matchmaker sessions
Tier II Partnerships
CVMSDC Networking Events
Discounted registration to CVMSDC events
Event Sponsorship opportunities (to include prominent signage & recognition in our BOC magazine at CVMSDC Business Opportunity Conference (BOC)
Event Exhibitor opportunities (to include exhibiting at CVMSDC BOC)
Webinars
CVMSDC E-Connection Newsletter
CVMSDC Calendar of Events
RFPs Business Leads/Alerts from Corporate Members
Education Development Sessions
Listing in National and local database with exposure to more than 3,500 local and national members
Ability to apply for Scholarships to executive management programs
- Minority Business Education Executive Program – Amos Tuck School of Business
- Kellogg School of Management Northwestern
- Minority Business Enterprises Executive Management Program – University of Richmond

Please read before submitting the subscription service application.

Subscription Service is only offered to MBEs that have businesses that are NOT headquartered in NC, SC central, eastern & western VA.

If your business IS headquartered in NC, SC central, eastern & western VA, please click here to begin the new certification application.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Certification

Please review the information found here.

Internet access and e-mail are integral part of communicating with corporate members and receiving information about opportunities. We strongly encourage you to consider applying for certification once you have consistent access to internet and a viable e-mail address. We would also like for you to consider attending the Pre-Certification Workshop that happens the 3rd Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at our offices. Because the certification application is only online, companies will need a working email address and regular internet access. Companies that benefit most from certification have established business operations and are able to provide goods and services to Fortune 500 companies or their prime suppliers. If the application process or fees are too demanding, CVMSDC strongly suggests that you develop your business and consider applying for certification at a future date.

The certification process can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 90 days. CVMSDC is currently averaging a 30 day completion rate from the time a completed application is submitted online with all of the required documentation.

Certification/Recertification Fees are based on the applicant’s gross receipts.
An expedited is a ten (10) day processing period from the time the applicant has completed and submitted payment, the application and all supporting documents are in the online system.

We are an ethnic based certification entity. If the woman owned business is an ethnic minority, she is eligible for CVMSDC’s certification.

Unfortunately, CVMSDC does not certify SDBs. We are an ethnic based organization.

CVMSDC certifies companies that are created as a result of a joint venture. For more information, we would strongly suggest that you attend the MBE Pre-Certification Workshop that is the 3rd Thursday of every month at 11:30 am.

Site visits are a mandatory part of the certification process. Site Visits are unscheduled and unannounced. Your site visit will be conducted at your company’s headquarters by CVMSDC staff. If you have a home-based office, a site visit is still required. Applications will not be approved without a completed site visit.

Your certification is valid for one calendar year. You can begin recertifying 90 days prior to your expiration date. Click here to review the steps on how to recertify with CVMSDC.

The username is the e-mail address associated with the file. If you forgot your password, click the forgot your password button.

Yes, there is an appeal process. Applicants have 30 days to appeal the decision in a written format. Once your appeal is considered and the result is unfavorable, the applicant will not be able to apply for certification for one year from the date of the original decision.

The CVMSDC staff and the certification compliance committee has access to your application. Everyone who has access to the applicant’s information must sign a confidentiality agreement yearly.

CVMSDC certifies any for-profit business located in the NS/CS/VA area that is 51% or more ethnic minority-owned, operated and controlled by a U.S. citizen (s), and authorized by the State and County to do business. Click here for additional criteria and see below for which groups the National MSDC considers ethnic minorities and U.S. citizens.

Ethnic Minority Certification is granted to companies that are owned, operated and controlled by U.S. citizens who belong to one or more of the following minority groups (to qualify for certification, a minority business owner must provide documentation to support the claim that they possess 1/4 or 25% minimum of the following ethnicities):

Asian-Indian	A U.S. citizen whose origins are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Asian-Pacific	A U.S. citizen whose origins are from Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas.
African- American	A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of sub-Saharan Africa.
Hispanic	A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage, from any of the Spanish-speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin only. Brazilians shall be listed under Hispanic designation for review and certification purposes.
Native American	A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut and Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. A Native American Indian must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate (i.e., tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number)

The National MSDC certifies based on bloodline NOT nationality.

Yes. According to the National MSDC, US citizenship is one of the criterion for certification. Permanent residents and Green Card holders do not qualify.

Yes. We would strongly encourage the applicant to consider attending the Pre-Certification Workshop. Register here: https://site.eventmatches.com/2024Pre

Click here for a list of documentation and helpful tips for ensuring an expedited process.

The certification requirements were established by the National MSDC and major corporations. CVMSDC is simply implementing the requirements as established by your potential customer to vet if the company meets the criteria.

Two (2) years of tax returns, balance sheet, income statement and profit and loss statements are required for certification. Pro-forma statements are not acceptable for the purpose of certification with CVMSDC.

Upon approval by the CVMSDC Board of Directors, you will receive an official certificate, certification number, and welcome letter. You will also gain access to the directory of CVMSDC Corporate Members, which contains the contact information for corporate buyers and Supplier Diversity professionals in our network. In addition, you will be able to access current corporate and government bid, as well as attend MBE-only events and Committee meetings.

Unfortunately, we do not guarantee contracts. Active participation, current information and a strong value proposition are suggestive approaches to attract corporations to MBEs.

If a change occurs in your business, it is your responsibility to inform CVMSDC within thirty (30) days. The following is a list of common situations:

Change in ownership, management, control, or operations
Relocation of a business
Change of products or services

Yes, the certification is a national certification that is recognized throughout the US. The National Minority Supplier Development Council is comprised of 23 Regional Councils like CVMSDC, 12,000 minority businesses, and over 460 National Corporate Members, including most of America’s largest publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals, and other buying institutions. Opportunities for contracts are not guaranteed; however, opportunities are greater with certification. What this means is that there may not be an opportunity now, but there may be an opportunity later.