Are M/WBEs required to be certified?

State law does not yet require certification. Some local governments, however, do have certification programs. While certification is not required for state-funded projects, M/WBEs are strongly encouraged to certify with the Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB). HUB maintains a vendor database of certified firms, which can greatly increase opportunities for M/WBEs to learn about and be notified about public projects. There is no uniform statewide certification program. Some local governments have their own certification procedures, while others may require certification from one of a number of certifying entities including HUB. Check with local governments in the areas where you do business to determine their certification requirements.  In 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly gave the Secretary of Administration the authority to develop a state-wide certification program for historically underutilized businesses, which are defined to include M/WBEs. G.S. 143-128.4(e) requires that, as of July 1, 2009, "[a]ll State departments, agencies, and institutions, and political subdivisions of the State shall only use historically underutilized businesses" that are certified under this state-wide program for purposes of the M/WBE requirements in G.S. 143-128.2 and G.S. 143-131.