Learn from certification experts
Trusted professionals are ready to support you as you navigate the certification process to compete for government and corporate contracts:
- Learn about the CERT Program in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, the City of Minneapolis and the City of Saint Paul
- Determine which certification best suites your vision and business offerings
- Explore the tools and resources available to make the certification process as easy as possible
- Gain access to a procurement network
- Identify how your business can leverage preferred vendor status and draft a compelling proposal
Elevate Hennepin advisors offer strategic guidance for your business to get to the next step. While they may support some implementation activities, business owners are responsible for ongoing maintenance and day-to-day operations. Businesses should be prepared to engage their own resources for complex projects that are anticipated to take more than 25 hours.
Contact an advisor below to help you identify and plan for your critical next step for certification or visit our Resource Directory to find more certification options and resources across all our support categories.
Not sure where to start? Schedule a one-on-one consultation with a Business Navigator.
Certification resources
Certified Access Academy is a 6-week cohort-based training opportunity to support disadvantaged businesses in their efforts to become certified to compete for government and corporate contracts.
Learn more →
Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses; Women; African American or Black; Latinx
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English
Latino Economic Development Center
The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) was created in 2003 and is the only Latino-led and Latino-focused economic development organization as well as CDFI in Minnesota and the upper Midwest.
Learn more →
Specialties
Disadvantaged businesses; Immigrant; Latinx; Construction; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Women
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Idea stage businesses; Second stage businesses (10+ employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Spanish
Sigma Consulting and Training is a consultancy and training provider specializing in advising and guiding BIPOC-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Learn more →
Specialties
African American or Black; Immigrant; Co-op businesses; Nonprofit sector; Social impact businesses; Disadvantaged businesses; Asian and Pacific Islander; LGBTQIA+; Women; Veteran; Latinx; Indigenous / Native American
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English; Speaks Somali
Small Business Dreambuilders, LLC
Our mission is to help diverse small businesses—whether in the startup phase, early growth, or second-stage development—turn their aspirations into successful enterprises.
Learn more →
Specialties
Nonprofit sector; Restaurant sector; Social impact businesses; African American or Black; Asian and Pacific Islander; Disadvantaged businesses; Indigenous / Native American; LGBTQIA+; Women; Immigrant; Latinx; Veteran
Startup businesses (0 employees); Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Speaks English