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Area of Support — Certification

Determine your certification strategy

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

Cohort opportunity to guide Women of Color-owned businesses through certification to work with governments and enterprises.
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Specialties

Certification, Government resources, Cohort learning and networking, Hennepin County,
Specialization
Disadvantaged businesses; Women; African American or Black; Latinx
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Startup businesses (0 employees)
Language
Speaks English

Sigma Consulting

Sigma Consulting & Training is a consultancy and training provider specializing in advising and guiding BIPOC-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Specialties

Financial management, Business strategy, Certification, Access to capital, Accounting, Advisors and consultants, Hennepin County,
Specialization
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
Stage
Early growth businesses (1-9 employees); Second stage businesses (10+ employees)
Language
Speaks English; Speaks Somali

Upcoming certification events

TG/ED/VO small business program certification for the state of MN

As your small business at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by women, ethnic minorities, veterans or persons with disabilities? Or is your small business located in an economically disadvantaged Minnesota county? If so, attend this session to learn about the state’s Small Business Procurement Program and the benefits of certification, including receiving preferences when responding to state opportunities, being hired without going through a competitive procurement process by state agency buyers for use on certain contracts under $100,000 and being listed in the public Directory of Certified Businesses. Learn more about the Program and how to apply for certification in this workshop.

 

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Startup toolkit: registration, permits, and business banking

This course is designed for pre-launch entrepreneurs who want to start smart and stay compliant.  

Starting a business can be overwhelming! Let us help you break down the essentials before launching. This two-hour session is your roadmap through the complex world of startup logistics and business banking. In this class, you’ll gain critical knowledge needed to register your business, navigate permits and licenses, and set your business finances up for success.  

 

 

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