ADC's Minority Certification will give your business the opportunity to access vast State Government budgets and nationally recognized corporations who are required to purchase from minority-owned businesses. This certification will make your business more appealing to State, Local, and Municipal agencies and grant access to purchasing networks that otherwise cannot be utilized.
Benefits of Minority Certification
There are numerous advantages to obtaining an ADC Minority Certification for your business including all of the following benefits:
- Connection to large State Government agencies
- Listing in National Supplier Databases
- Training and educational programs exclusive to minority-owned businesses
- Networking opportunities
- Spending goals of top corporations
- Connections with buyers looking to meet subcontracting goals
- Access to purchasing agents
- Mentorship programs
Learn More About the Certification Process
- Review certification criteria below to ensure that your business qualifies.
- Gather the required documentation. A sample of the documentation requirements are listed directly below.
- Complete the online application in its entirety. You’ll have as long as you need to complete the application and can save each section as you go.
- To apply, a one-time fee of $750 must be paid online via credit card. Visit this link to pay online.
- Upload the required documentation via the online certification/recertification application and hit submit upon completion.
- The application will go through a desk audit to ensure the accuracy of the application, all of the documentation is uploaded and completed, and the references are contacted.
- ADC will make the final approval.
Required Documentation:
ALL BUSINESSES (SOLE PROPRIETORS) ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT:
- Completed certification application
- Signed, dated and notarized affidavit/declaration page
- Fictitious Business Statement – DBA (if applicable)
- Driver’s license or currently valid picture ID
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship (US passport, long form original birth certificate, driver’s license and voter’s registration card, naturalization certificate)
- Proof of Ethnicity for Owner(s), Partners, Shareholders that includes race (Foreign passport, long form original birth certificate, parent’s birth/death certificate or child’s birth certificate)
- Indian/Native Americans Blood Degree Certificate (i.e. tribal registry letter, tribal roll register number) [if applicable]
- Two Years of Federal Tax Returns (Business)*1
- Current Financial Statements (P &L , statement of cash flows, balance sheet)*2
- Notes Payable (if applicable)
- Applicable Operating Business License and/or permits (if applicable)
- Occupational Licenses (if applicable)
- Lease Agreement if business premises are leased or rented Signature page of homeowners deed or mortgage receipt (if property is owned or home based)
- Resume(s) of owner(s), partners, shareholders or key employees (to include current enterprise and the definition of role within)
- Bank Signature Card (or letter from bank identifying signatures on the account and type of account)
- Equipment Rental and Purchase Agreements (if applicable)
- Current invoice receivables with corresponding proof of payment (at least two) (i.e. cancelled check, deposit slip, bank statement with matching amount)
- Equipment owned or available (include description of equipment, year acquired, and current value)
- Proof of Bonding Capacity (if applicable)
- Proof of EIN
- Certificate of Authority to Transact Business (Foreign Entity Certificate) (if applicable)
- Non-refundable application processing fee based on annual gross revenue sales
FRANCHISES SUBMIT:
- Franchise Agreement
PARTNERSHIPS SUBMIT: (If the company is a LLP or Ltd., applicants must submit the legal documents for all companies involved. For example, if the GP is a LLC, the applicant must submit documents for the Partnership and the LLC)
- Articles of Partnership(for LLP/Ltd)
- Certificate of limited partnership or certificate of formation(for LLP/Ltd)
- Partnership Agreements (to include buy-out rights and profit sharing)
- Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, initial deposits, bank statements)
- Proof of Partnership purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
CORPORATIONS SUBMIT:
- Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) (if applicable)
- Certificate of Corporation
- Article of Incorporation or Certificate of formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
- Articles of Amendment or Certificate of Amendment (if applicable)
- Corporate Bylaws or Governing documents
- Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
- Minutes of 1st Organizational Board Meeting
- Minutes of the last Board meeting
- Minutes of the last meeting where officers were elected
- Copies of both sides of all stock certificates issued (no specimen)
- Copies of both sides of the next consecutive stock certificate not issued
- Current Stock Ledger
- Proof of Stock purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
- Copy of the purchase or buy/sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments)(if applicable)
- Copy of any stock options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners (if applicable)
LLCs SUBMIT:
- Assumed Name Certificate (filed with the Secretary of State) (if applicable)
- Certificate of organization
- Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation (stamped copy from the Secretary of State)
- Articles of Amendment or Certificate of amendment (if applicable)
- Operating Agreement
- Proof of Capital Investment (i.e. both side of cancelled checks, equipment receipts, initial deposits, bank statements)
- Minutes of the organizational meeting or minutes of the meeting
- Minutes of the last meeting where managers or members were identified and elected
- Copy of both sides of all certificates of ownership issued (no specimen)
- Copy of both sides of next consecutive membership unit certificate not issued
- Copy of ownership transfer ledger or copy of membership transfer ledger
- Proof of unit purchase (i.e. both sides of cancelled checks, deposit slips, bank statements)
- Copy of the purchase or buy/sell agreement with the corresponding proof of payments)(if applicable)
- Copy of any membership unit options or other ownership options outstanding as well as agreements which restrict ownership or control of minority owners (if applicable)
Things to know about the application process:
- The Certification process can take up to 90 days.
- When completing the application, feel free to take as long as needed.
- The processing of your application will begin once payment is received.
- Application and documents are reviewed for completeness.
- If the ADC rejects your application, you may submit a letter of appeal.