State
Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD)
Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM)
The certification program is a state program of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose is to enhance procurement opportunities for SWaM businesses participating in state-funded projects.
https://www.sbsd.virginia.gov/certification-division/swam/
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
The certification program is a Federal program. The purpose is to increase the participation of certified DBEs in projects funded by the US Department of Transportation and other federal sectors. Projects typically include heavy construction, such as building and designing roads, bridges, railroads, ports, and airports.
https://www.sbsd.virginia.gov/certification-division/dbe/
Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU)
Includes any college or university that was established prior to 1964: whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans; and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education. In addition,”Minority-owned business” means also any historically black college or university, regardless of the percentage ownership by minority individuals.
https://www.sbsd.virginia.gov/certification-division/hbcu/
Service Disabled Veterans (SDV)
Veterans who are small business owners can obtain Service Disabled Veteran-owned “status” in the SWaM vendor database. This is not a separate certification; it is a designation of those businesses that are owned by Service Disabled Veterans who are certified as such by the Virginia Department of Veteran Services. Veterans can apply for small, women-owned or minority owned certification with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity before or after obtaining an eligibility certificate from DVS. Both services are available at no charge.
https://www.sbsd.virginia.gov/certification-division/sdv/
Micro Business (Micro)
As a certified small business by the Department, your company may qualify for micro business certification. A business may be certified as a micro business if it is first certified as a small business pursuant to 7VAC13-20-40 and, together with its affiliates, has 25 or fewer employees and average annual gross receipts of $3 million or less averaged over the previous three years. In order to apply for micro business certification, please follow the steps below.