Every small business in America is unique and deserving of assistance. The HUBZone Empowerment Act was built to help the companies that operate and employ people in these underutilized zones. Receiving a HUBZone Certification will give your business access to millions of dollars of government spending.

Contact GSE today to speak with our certified HUBZone Consultants.

In 1998, the United States Congress passed the HUBZone Empowerment Act to increase employment opportunities, investment, and economic development within Historically Underutilized Business areas. The overall goal is to award a minimum of three percent of Federal Spending to small businesses within these zones.

The SBA defines these areas as distressed rural and urban communities, which typically have low median household incomes. Additionally, the HUBZones will have a notoriously high unemployment rate.

Small businesses hoping to become HUBZone certified are required to complete an online application on the SBA site.

If your HUBZone Certification application is accepted, you will need further supporting documentation and require recertification every three years.

As with most government contracting, the application and acceptance process of a HUBZone Certification can be extremely complicated. That’s where GSE can assist you.

Forget about hoping to fill out the application appropriately; we have qualified consultants who will walk you through the method one step at a time. Our goal is to help your small business receive a HUBZone certification without any hiccups.

While the process isn’t always cut and dry, to be considered eligible for a HUBZone Certification, an organization must be a small business, according to SBA standards. The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Be a small business
• Be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, a Native Hawaiian organization, or a Native American tribe
• Have its principal office located within a HUBZone
• Have at least 35 percent of its employees live in a HUBZone

Check to see if your business is in a HUBZone here: https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map

Becoming a HUBZone certified small business allows your company to compete for the program’s set-aside spending. Also, HUBZone-certified firms can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs that they may qualify for. More benefits include:

• A 10% pricing advantage over its competition bidding on the same government contract.
• HUBZone firms are eligible to bid on set-aside contracts limiting the scope of competition to only HUBZone certified firms.
• 3% of Federal Government spending is mandated to be spent with HUBZone firms.
• 3% of prime contracts are mandated to be subbed out to HUBZone certified firms.
• Use of SBA Certified HUBZone Business logo, which can be used for marketing.

The process of proving that your firm is qualified, completing the application, and returning additional documentation upon request can be complicated. While the SBA is always making steps to give small business a break, turning to the HUBzone Certification professionals is still in your best interest.

Take a look to see if your business falls under a HUBZone area, and complete our form below to get started on the HUBZone Certification process. GSE will assist you from beginning to end and ensure your business is set up for success.