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Women, Minority, Veteran Certification

Women, Minority, Veteran Certification

Certification Gives Your Business Competitive Edge

If your business is 51 percent majority-owned by a woman, minority or veteran, certification could present opportunities for your business, but there is a process to becoming certified.

Certification allows you to:

  • sell to the government
  • apply for set-aside contracts
  • operate as a subcontractor
  • opens doors to diversity programs

Our expert consultants at the Florida SBDC at USF can assist your business with:

  • understanding which certification is most beneficial
  • reviewing certification packets to ensure accuracy
  • becoming a registered vendor with government entities
  • strategizing how to market your business

Frequently Asked Questions

Why get certified?

Being certified as a woman, minority or veteran owned small business opens the doors to working with government entities and gives you a competitive edge.

What is certification?

Certification is applied for through the various city, county and state entities. Having a certification allows you to compete for additional contracts. Your business must be 51 percent owned by a woman, minority or veteran, to qualify.

How do I get certified?

You can gain certification through Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, City of Tampa, City of St. Petersburg and the State of Florida, just to name a few. Most of the time, this can be done online.

What do I do once I get certified?

Once certified as a woman, minority or veteran business, you must register as a vendor with the agencies you choose to work with. The Florida SBDC at USF can help you decide which agencies will be most beneficial for you.

Consultants

Yanina Rosario

Yanina Rosario

Certification Consultants, Consultants, Rosario, Tampa
https://enwqtxc9es4.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/YaninaRosario_2025WEB-e1742403810452.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1 1024 1024 admin /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Locked-Host-Logos-Horizontal-USF-Small-e1728920602651.png admin2020-11-28 20:57:172025-07-21 22:03:54Yanina Rosario

Solutions

  • Growth Acceleration
  • Certifications
  • Minority-Owned
  • Woman-Owned
  • Veteran-Owned
  • International Trade
  • Government Contracting
  • Consulting
  • Training
  • Starting Your Business
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Student Teams
  • Organizational Development

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Contact Us

Regional Office Contact Info

USF CONNECT
3802 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33612

813-396-2700

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Florida SBDC Network

The Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide partnership program nationally accredited by the Association of America’s SBDCs and funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network’s headquarters. Full funding disclosure available at www.floridasbdc.org/funding-disclosures/. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency.

All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or other funding partners.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. To request accommodation or language assistance, please contact Nelson Reyes, nreyes@usf.edu, 813.396.2700.

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State Designated as Florida’s Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§ 288.01, Fla. Stat.]

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