• To grow small businesses in the Charlotte Regional Area.
• Prepare Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) to be competitive when competing for city contracts.

• You can bid on formal and informal City contracts
• Your company information is included in the Citywide Vendor List
• You’ll receive more frequent notices of contracting opportunities
• Attend Doing Business With the City orientation
• Networking events and opportunities
• Business and technical assistance

Applicants seeking SBE Certification must meet the following requirements:

• Principal place of business must be located within the Charlotte Regional Area (Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Anson, York, Union, Gaston, Rowan, Lincoln)
• 51% or more of the applicant business must be owned by one or more “Eligible Owner(s)”
• “Eligible Owner(s)” must have a Personal Net Worth under $750,000 (with exclusions)
• Applicant businesses must be licensed and for-profit
• Actively in business for one year
• Applicant business must perform a commercially useful function
• Applicant business cannot exceed the approved threshold size standards

How to get your SBE Certification

• Download and complete SBE Certification Application (fillable pdf)
• If you used to have SBE Certification but let it run out, download and complete SBE Recertification Application (pdf) 
• Download and complete Personal Net Worth Form (pdf)
• Updated Listing of Certified SBEs and other City Vendors

For more information about the Small Business Development Program policies and reports, visit the Small Business Library.