West Palm Beach details SBE and MWBE certification requirements, interlocal recognition with county and school district

Mayor Keith James and city staff outlined requirements and benefits for the City of West Palm Beach’s Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Minority/Woman Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification programs, and said the city will accept equivalent certifications issued by Palm Beach County or the School District of Palm Beach County under an interlocal agreement.

“Our city is experiencing a period of unprecedented growth, and with that growth comes many exciting opportunities for residents and business owners alike,” Mayor Keith James said. Laquia Green, the city’s certification specialist, said the programs are designed to help small and minority businesses access procurement opportunities and contracts.

“The small and minority business programs are designed to assist small and minority businesses with the procurement process, contracts, and ensuring they receive equal opportunities,” Laquia Green said. She listed the program topics covered in the presentation: what the SBE/MWBE programs are, types of certifications and eligibility criteria, an overview of the certification process, required documents, and interlocal certifications.

City staff said certification is free and provides several advantages to certified firms, including contracting and subcontracting preferences, “sheltered market” opportunities available only to certified businesses, and placement on a searchable list used by large contractors and partner agencies. Staff also described special networking events and fairs where certified businesses can connect with contractors and other agencies.

Eligibility and documentation details provided in the presentation include: businesses must be domiciled in Palm Beach County to qualify for city certification; size standards vary by industry, with a stated gross-average threshold of $7,000,000 over three years for goods, services and professional services and $13,000,000 over three years for construction firms; and MWBE certification requires majority ownership (51% or more) by persons who identify as minority or women-owned businesses. Staff said a downloadable checklist of required documents is available on the city website and that additional documents may be required depending on business structure.

Staff noted the city’s interlocal agreement with Palm Beach County and the School District of Palm Beach County means applicants certified by either of those agencies may have their certification recognized by the city; staff said the interlocal agreement can be obtained from the certifying agency. A step‑by‑step tutorial video and contact information were referenced for applicants seeking help.

For questions, the presentation listed Laquia Green and Sofia Grosso as contacts; phone numbers and specific web links were referred to in the video but not specified in the transcript.

The presentation was informational and did not include a formal vote or directive recorded in the transcript.