Minority Business Enterprise Certification Procedures

A Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) is a for-profit enterprise, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, which is owned, operated and controlled by minority group members. Minority group members are U.S. citizens who are:

• African American
• Hispanic American
• Native American
• Asian-Pacific American
• Asian-Indian American

In order to be certified as a minority business enterprise, the business must be determined to be:

• legally organized
• established as a profit-making organization
• at least 51% owned by a minority group member
• independent and not affiliated with a non-minority firm
• under the day-to-day operational guidance and control of a minority group member

The Upstate New York Regional Minority Purchasing Council, Inc. (UNYRMPCI) is affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSCD), headquartered in New York. Therefore, the certification policies and procedures of the NMSDC bind us.

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MBE Certification Procedures

• Applicable fees: $150 certification fee.
• Applicant's business should fall within one of the following categories: sole-proprietorship, corporation, partnership, limited liability partnership or limited liability company.
• Applicant must complete and return certification application along with requested documents.
• UNYRMPCI will conduct a site visit after all of the documentation has been submitted to Council.
• Applicant will be notified in writing of the final decision. If approved, a certificate of certification is issued, along with Council information.
• Applicants meeting the certification criteria will be eligible for specified services provided by NMSDC and UNYRMPCI. Certified MBEs will be listed in UNYRMPCI Supplier Directory and in the NMSDC national database called the Minority Business Information System (MBISYS) to which all National Corporate members have direct access.