Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Small Business Certification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Palm Beach details online process to certify small, minority and women-owned businesses
Summary
City compliance specialist Sofia Grosso walks applicants through eligibility, NIGP code selection, affidavit requirements and document uploads for SBE/MWBE certification via wpb.prismcompliance.com; applications typically take 2–4 weeks to review.
Sofia Grosso, a compliance specialist with the City of West Palm Beach Office of Small and Minority Business Programs, released a step-by-step video tutorial explaining how businesses can apply for Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification through the city's online portal at wpb.prismcompliance.com.
The video lays out eligibility criteria, required documentation and the sequence of actions applicants must take to complete and submit an application. Grosso said, "Applications take roughly 2 to 4 weeks to review." The tutorial also shows how applicants can resume an incomplete application using an application ID and that the portal will send email confirmations at each stage of review.
The nut of the process begins with visiting the portal and selecting "Let's Go" under the certification box, then using the yellow "Start Application" button. Applicants complete a pre-qualification screen that excludes nonprofit organizations, businesses outside Palm Beach County and certain firm structures from SBE or MWBE certification. The portal requires entry of a tax ID number and selection of the certification type or types sought.
Grosso demonstrates selecting industry classifications by searching NIGP (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing) codes or keywords; the portal allows adding up to five industry codes. In the business ownership and management section, applicants add each owner by using drop-down menus and clicking a "Save Owner" button; that step repeats for each owner listed.
For size standards, applicants enter a year from a drop-down menu and input total sales and numbers of full- and part-time employees for that year, saving each entry. The video instructs applicants to repeat the size entry for the past three years or for as many years as the business has been operating if fewer than three.
The tutorial explains two paths for applicants who already hold local certifications: if the applicant has certifications from Palm Beach County or the Palm Beach County Scribe Board, they select "Yes" and upload an interlocal agreement and a signed affidavit from the partner institution. If applicants do not have those certifications, they select "No," download a personalized affidavit from the portal, print, sign, notarize and later upload the notarized affidavit to complete the application.
On the upload screen, required and relevant supporting documents must be attached; optional documents can be marked "NA" to skip them. Applicants may save and return later using their application ID; when ready they reach a submit screen and click "Submit Application." Grosso says applicants will receive an email confirming receipt and subsequent updates during the review process.
The video closes with contact instructions displayed on the portal for questions and encouragement to follow the steps carefully to complete the application.
For clarity, the tutorial is demonstrative: example entries used in the video are for demonstration only and applicants are instructed to select options and enter values relevant to their own businesses.
