About

We help businesses that are owned and controlled by minorities, women, and other socially or economically disadvantaged persons to become certified with the Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) so that they can do business with state, county, and local government agencies who are seeking diverse suppliers.

African American woman in construction safety vest and hard hat holds a rolled blueprint in front of a cinderblock wall.
Latino man and African American man work on a mechanical part together.

About

CertifyWA.com is a collaboration between the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (Northwest Mountain MSDC) and the Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) to develop equitable opportunities for small and diverse businesses.

The OMWBE certification program strengthens the ability of minority-owned businesses to obtain government contracts in heavy construction, such as building and designing roads, bridges, railroads, ports, airports, and obtain business opportunities through bid prioritization, loan assistance, and other technical support.

Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council

About Northwest Mountain MSDC

Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council is a nonprofit organization certifying, developing, and connecting minority business enterprises (MBEs) with major corporations and public agencies.

Washington State Office of Minority & Women's Business Enterprises

About OMWBE

The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises leads programs that includes a comprehensive certification process, small business support services, and the supplier diversity team that works with businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans.

Dozens of businesses are certified every month, across these industries and more:

Construction

Transportation

Professional Services

Computers & Technology

Energy & Electrical

Architecture & Design

Don’t risk falling behind your competitors. Leverage certification to help your business grow, access government contracts, and reduce the interest rates you pay on small business loans.

Our
Experts

Our team has decades of experience certifying and developing small and diverse businesses. Meet the team members who are leading Certify WA.

Armando wears a black suit, white dress shirt and blue striped tie. He has short dark hair, a mustache, and wears red glasses.

Armando Guerrero

Outreach and Certification Specialist

Armando Guerrero is bilingual in English and Spanish and is the main contact for assistance with the Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certification. Contact Armando for inquiries regarding mandatory documents, an application walkthrough, or general information about OMWBE’s State Certification.

Grayson wears a black suit and blue tie, he has close-cropped dark hair.

Grayson Martin

Program Manager

Grayson Martin is bilingual in English and Spanish and is the main contact for collaboration opportunities in your county and OMWBE certification assistance.

Certification Benefits

As a certified minority- or women-owned small business, you’ll have access to these benefits and more:

Bid Competitively on Public Agency Contracts

Many state and local government projects have supplier diversity goals. Your certification helps these projects meet their goals.

Reduce Business Loan Interest Rates by up to 2%

The Linked Deposit Loan Program can help your firm pay up to 2% less interest on a qualifying small business loan.

Stand Out Among Your Competitors

Your certification is a point of distinction for public agency buyers who seek to support diverse firms at all levels of government.

List Your Business in Diverse Supplier Directory

Your certified business will be listed in the state’s directory of diverse suppliers, making it easier for government agencies to find and do business with you.