Business Enterprise Certification Program

Get Certified or Renew Certification

Directory of Certified Businesses

Business Support & Resources

Certification Events

Certification Supporting Document Checklist

certify SLT Business Certification Program

St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) in conjunction with St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and Greater St. Louis, Inc. works to promote business opportunities and capabilities of Business Enterprises Certification Program. Goals of CertifySTL are to eliminate barriers and drive equal economic opportunity for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) throughout the entire St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

MWBE Business Services

Assist with the MWBE Certification Process
Assist MWBE with Business Expansion Strategies
Technical and Business Consulting
Business Incentives

MWBE Certification Program

SLDC manages the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program and monitors the utilization of MWBEs by prime contractors on construction projects in the City of St. Louis that are $1 million or more receiving an incentive.

Minority-and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification Program

SLDC has approved new rules governing the certification and compliance of women and minority owned businesses for participation in the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program (MWBE Program).

Certification and Compliance Rules

MWBE Contractor Compliance/Opportunities

Directory of Certified Businesses

Certification Benefits Include:

Official validation of Certification status
Participation in official certified contracting opportunities that require certification
Access to City Projects contracts through SLDC’s Planroom
Inclusion in the public Certification Database
Marketing opportunities through SLDC’s Certification Spotlight program
Training and business development
Technical assistance
Direct referrals to local business experts & other diversity programs

Get Certified or Renew Certification

Who Qualifies for the CertifySTL Program?

Minority-Owned Businesses

A business owned and managed by an individual who is Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. This individual must actively oversee the daily operations of the business and control a majority (51% or greater) ownership stake.

Woman-Owned Businesses

A business owned and managed by a woman who actively oversees its daily operations and controls a majority (51% or greater) ownership stake.

Out of State Businesses

Businesses applying from outside the state of Missouri must submit documentation of reciprocal certification through an official local, state, or federal program (ex. State DOT, SBA, State/Local MWBE). The MWBE Manager will determine if the reciprocal certification meets SLDC’s requirements.

How To Apply for Certification

This application must be signed and notarized
1. Copies of signed Federal Tax returns showing gross business receipts for the last two years (unless you have only been in business for one year)
2. Copy of any current applicable business license(s) and certifications
3. Copy of owner’s current ID, front and back (i.e., driver’s license, ID card)
4. Copy of a current deed, rental, or lease agreement showing business address
5. Copies of organizational documents filed with Secretary of State (if applicable)
6. Current reciprocal local, state, Department of Transportation, or Federal certification
  - This is required for applicants outside the state of Missouri
  - Reciprocal certification may expedite the certification process for in-state applicants
The socially and economically disadvantaged owner(s) must demonstrate the ability to control the firm in the specific type(s) or work in which the firm seeks Certification whether on initial Certification or upon a request for Certification in an additional type of work, by completing a NAICS Code Expansion Application.
a. To become certified in an additional type of work, the firm need not to submit a new application for Certification, but must verify that the socially and economically disadvantaged owners are able to control the firm in the additional type of work by completing a NAICS Code Expansion Application.
b. The firm's areas of expertise should be described in terms that are specific. Multiple areas of expertise may be assigned where appropriate.
c. The firm bears the burden of providing any detailed company information that the Certification Department needs to make an appropriate area of expertise designation.
d. The Certification Department is not precluded from changing an area of expertise if there is a factual basis in the record.
EXPANSION DOCUMENTATION CHECKLIST

Renewal

Renewal will be for 1 year upon review and verification of the above information.

Complete Certification Application
Provide 2 years of business Income Taxes (signed 1st and last pages only, K-1/K-2, M-1/M-2, and/or schedule “C” forms)

The documentation you submit must show gross business receipts and ownership information for both years

Attach a copy of Expired Certification
Photo ID, front and back
Current Lease
Current Business License (if applicable)

Out of State Companies

If you are an out of state company looking to do business with the City of St. Louis and St. Louis MSA and want to be listed in our database, you MUST:

Submit documentation of reciprocal certification through national, state, or your local government (ex. State DOT, SBA, State MWBE, etc.)

The Certification Team will determine if the reciprocal certification meets SLDC’s requirements.

Meet all the Certification requirements: Race, gender, income, at least one (1) year in business, etc.
Complete the Certification Application and provide all required documents.

DBE or ACDBE Certification Applications, Expansions and DBE/ACDBE Interstate Applications

St. Louis Lambert International Airport Business Diversity Development (BDD) Office administers the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Programs in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26 and Part 23.

If you have questions regarding federal certifications, contact BDD at 314.426.8111 or refer to the BDD website at: https://www.flystl.com/civil-rights/business/business-diversity-development-1/get-certified

St. Louis Lambert International Airport Business Diversity Development (BDD) Office

Diversity Management System for St. Louis County Government

Diversity Management Reporting System (DMRS) means the web-based software system accessible to all prime contractors, subcontractors, regardless of tier, and County users that: automates communication with prime contractors via email regarding compliance issues; permits submission of monthly utilization reports online; tracks progress toward M/WBE goal attainment; and automates verification and concurrence of subcontractor payments.

Diversity Management System for St. Louis County Government