Minnesota Corporations and Government Agencies Spend Billions Every Year. Black-Owned Businesses Deserve a Larger Share.
Procurement — purchasing from Black-owned businesses — is one of the most powerful levers for Black business growth in Minnesota. A single corporate contract can generate more revenue for a Black-owned business than years of traditional business development activities.
The Minnesota Black Chamber's Procurement Center provides the resources, relationships, and preparation that Black entrepreneurs need to compete for — and win — corporate and government contracts.
Certification Guidance
Business certifications open doors to procurement opportunities that are reserved for minority-owned, disadvantaged, or small businesses. The Procurement Center provides step-by-step guidance for obtaining the certifications that matter most to your target buyers:
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
Certification through a National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) affiliate opens doors to corporate supplier diversity programs at some of Minnesota's largest companies. MBE certification signals to corporate buyers that your business is verified, prepared, and ready for their supply chain.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
The DBE program, administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, provides access to transportation contracts funded by federal dollars. If your business operates in construction, engineering, professional services, or related fields, DBE certification may be your pathway to significant government contracts.
Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and other local government entities operate SBE programs that direct contracts to certified small businesses. SBE certification requirements and benefits vary by jurisdiction — the Procurement Center guides you through the options most relevant to your market.
8(a) Business Development Program
The SBA's 8(a) program provides access to set-aside federal contracts for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. For Black-owned businesses with federal contracting ambitions, 8(a) certification can be transformative — providing a competitive advantage in a large and growing market.
Procurement Readiness Program
Winning a contract is the end of a preparation process — not the beginning. The Chamber's Procurement Readiness program prepares Black-owned businesses to compete successfully for corporate and government contracts. The program covers:
- Capability statement development — the essential one-page document that introduces your business to buyers
- Past performance documentation — how to present your track record effectively
- Pricing and cost accounting — understanding how to price for government and corporate bids
- Compliance requirements — what buyers need to see before they can work with you
- Teaming and joint ventures — how to partner with larger firms to access bigger contracts
- Proposal writing — how to respond to RFPs, RFQs, and solicitations effectively
- Corporate due diligence preparation — what corporate supply chain teams look for when evaluating vendors
Contract Opportunity Board
A regularly updated listing of corporate and government procurement opportunities available to Black-owned businesses. Includes opportunities from Chamber corporate partners, state and local government agencies, and federal procurement portals.
[COPY NOTE: Dynamic content block. New opportunities added as received from partners and procurement portals. Each listing: organization, contract type, value range, deadline, requirements, application link.]
PRIMARY CTA: [ Browse Contract Opportunities ]
Corporate Connections
Some of Minnesota's largest corporations are committed to diversifying their supply chains — and the Chamber is their gateway to qualified Black-owned suppliers. Through the Chamber's corporate partnership network, Black-owned businesses gain direct connections to procurement officers and supplier diversity leaders who are actively looking for vendors like you.
“The contract changed everything. And the Chamber got us in the room.”
PRIMARY CTA: [ Explore Procurement Resources ]
SECONDARY CTA: [ Get Certified ]