MWBE Certification Information

To become certified as an MWBE, it must be verified that the business is construction-related and the business owner:

• Owns at least 51% of the business
• Is a woman or member of a recognized “minority” (see below)
• Has the authority to independently direct daily business operations and enforce the policies of the firm
• Devotes time on an ongoing basis to the routine management responsibilities of the business
• Shares in all benefits and liabilities in proportion to ownership
• Has contributed money, equipment, property, or expertise in proportion to ownership
• Has adequate technical expertise or managerial experience to run the business

The recognized “minorities” are:

• Black or African American: Persons having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.*
• Hispanic/Latino: Persons of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. 
• Asian or Pacific Islander: Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the Pacific islands, Hawaii or Samoa.* 
• Native American or Alaskan Native: Persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North, Central and South America, who maintain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.*

* not Hispanic/Latino

Ownership must be “real and continuing and shall not be created solely to take advantage of special programs.”

Suspect indicators: 

1. Interlocking management. Officers, directors, employees or principal stockholders of a non-MWBE firm serving as officers of the MWBE applicant firm.
2. Common facilities. A non-MWBE firm shares common office space and/or employees and/or other facilities with the MWBE applicant.

To Apply:

Download the Certification Application. Print it out, fill in and send with all required documentation to City of Albany MWBE Officer, City Hall, Room 307, 24 Eagle St., Albany NY 12207.

When the certification application is received, it will be reviewed for: 

• verification of the conditions noted above; 
• completeness of the application; and 
• proof that the business is legitimate and functioning. 

When the complete application has been received, it will be reviewed within about four weeks.

If documentation is incomplete or missing, the reviewer may ask the business owner for more information, and the application may be delayed or denied, so ensure the application is complete when you send it. Lack of adequate information to verify the above conditions will result in the application being denied. The reviewer may visit the business to determine if it is correctly described in the documentation.

When the application has been approved, the MWBE Officer will email a letter to the MWBE stating certification in the program and other details, and the business will be added to the MWBE Directory. Certification is valid for three years, after which the business owner must re-certify in order to remain in the Directory. Also, the business must respond to a short annual email questionnaire to ensure all information is correct and current.

This certification does not intend to imply that the City of Albany guarantees your company’s capability to perform on City of Albany contracts, nor does it imply that your company is guaranteed any City of Albany business.

Denial of Certification

If a certification application is denied, the applicant will receive a letter stating the reason(s) for the denial in writing. The applicant may re-apply, and include documentation addressing the concern of the denial. 

After examining the additional documentation, if the concerns were not adequately addressed or corrected, the denial of certification may be upheld. 

The business may re-apply after 12 months.