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Certification
Minority and women-owned businesses interested with public procurement opportunities are encouraged to be certified as such with the state.  There are two ways that minority and women-owned businesses can become qualified and there are advantages to both processes. 

First, there is a FREE online service for Self-Declaration.  This enters your business into a database of New Jersey’s small, minority & women-owned businesses, which helps to promote your business to buyers from the various state agencies, authorities, commissions, colleges and universities and to prime contractors bidding on state contracts who are looking for potential subcontractors.

Second, there are some instances where Official Certification is necessary to participate in public and private contracting opportunities.  Therefore, you may choose to submit a certification application for certification with the State.
Certification Eligibility:
Any business whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minorities or women who own it, and which is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minorities or women is eligible to participate in this program. A business may apply and be eligible for more than one status, such as minority- and women-owned business (MWBE), which can be certified as both MBE and WBE.
Certification Application:
In order to be certified, qualified applicants must complete a MBE/WBE CERTIFICATION APPLICATION [pdf 915k]
and submit the application with a non-refundable check or money order in the amount of $75.00 made payable to the New Jersey Commerce Commission.

New Jersey Commerce Commission
Office of Business Services
20 West State Street, PO Box 820
Trenton, NJ 08625-0820
609-777-0885

Note:
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ( PANYNJ) will accept the MBE/WBE Certification Application in administering their certification program and  will share information with the New Jersey Commerce Commission with regard to applications for MBE/WBE certification.  For further information contact the PANYNJ at 212-435-7808.

If your firm already has been granted MBE/WBE status by The PANYNJ, 12 months, you may submit to the Commerce Commission a copy of the certification approval letter and/or certificate, and a non-refundable check or money order in the amount of $75.00 in lieu of completing the MBE/WBE Application.