Minority and Women
Business Enterprise Program

Welcome! The city's M/WBE program is designed to assist minority- and women-owned business enterprises in providing goods and services to the city. In addition, the program provides workshops and seminars for minority- and women-owned businesses, and assistance with the resolution of problems and complaints relating to the M/WBE program. You do not have to be a certified minority company to do business with the City of Winston-Salem but the certification will improve your chances to participate on city contracts.  Please go to our MWBE Certification  page to find out how to apply for certification.

Watch our new Let's Do Business  show on WSTV 13 to learn more about our program and M/WBE businesses in the community. 

Please follow the M/WBE Businesses link  to locate Winston-Salem area HUB certified businesses.

Section 3/MWBE Business Training Program -  The City of Winston-Salem through the Development Office provides a series of classes for local residents thinking about opening a small business.  The classes begin in October and cover the different aspects of running a small business such as keeping records & paying taxes, insurance, writing a business plan and how to apply to the city for a small business loan.  This class is held every fall.  Please contact Ruben Gonzales for other resource information.

Calendar of Opportunities

February M/WBE Calendar [pdf/171kb/1p] 

Examples of Goods & Services the City uses during the year

Goods and Services examples [pdf/161kb/3p]   

M/WBE Business Certification

The State of North Carolina, through its HUB Office, is now the certifying agency for the state.  The City of Winston-Salem no longer certifies businesses as minority- or women-owned.  If you want certification for your business you must register your firm in the Vendor Link NC  database to request HUB Certification.

If you wish to locate certified M/WBE businesses, visit the HUB website to search for vendors.   

MWBE Citizen Advisory Committee:
Meets the second to last Tuesday of every month, as needed, to review participation goals on construction projects.  If interested in volunteering, please contact the Mayor's Office.

Section 3 Business Application

The City of Winston-Salem no longer certifies businesses as M/WBE; however, we continue to certify businesses as Section 3 eligible.  Businesses wishing to be certified under the Federal Government Section 3 guidelines must visit our office. Read more information about the city's Section 3 program.