Resources for Business Development

Agencies where small businesses register to be placed on the notification list of contracts to be let by that agency.

State and Local Agencies

Apprenticeship - Labor and Industry of Washington State
L & I works with construction industry contractors via the electrical and plumbing licensure programs and general contractor registration and bonding. Visit this site to learn more about how to become an Apprentice.

The City of Tacoma’s Historically Under-Utilized Business Program (HUB)
The City of Tacoma’s Historically Under-Utilized Business Program (HUB) offers contracting Opportunities and business management assistance to qualified small business contractors.

The Pierce County Historically Under-Utilized Business Program (HUB)
Pierce County invites qualified Historically Under-Utilized Businesses to participate in the county's contracting and business opportunities.

King County's Small Economically Disadvantaged Business (SEDBs) Program
Promoting the use of Small Economically Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in its procurement opportunities.

The Regional Contracting Forum
The Regional Contracting Forum is the brainchild of a Regional Collaboration Group. Comprised of representatives from Port of Seattle, City of Seattle, Sound Transit, and King County, this cross-jurisdiction strategic planning group identified the need for contractors and businesses to have better access to contracting opportunities available in government agencies across the region.

Washington State Office of Minority, Women Business Enterprises (OMWBE)
You will find information aside from the State Directory of certified minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises. This site contains information on how to do business in Washington State, legislation information on minority, women and disadvantaged businesses by Washington State, training provided by the OMWBE office links to other sites of interest regarding DBE, MBE or WBE issues.

Washington State Department of Transportation
Visit this site for information on the best organized Office of Equal Opportunity among state agencies.

Sound Transit Contracts
Register online with e-Bid, Sound Transit's online procurement system. Potential vendors can now receive automatic email notices for contracting opportunities in their area of business. Vendors will be able to view, download or order solicitation documents, submit questions, view bid results and contract award information, as well as network with other vendors and more.

Community Transit
Community Transit promotes and encourages small business participation, which may include small minority and women owned businesses, and small businesses owned by persons with disabilities, on its contracts. Firms are reminded to afford all potential business partners an equal, non-discriminatory opportunity to compete for business as joint venture partners or subcontractors.

Federal Agencies

Small Business Administration
A basic course on how to start a small business and business planning for the new business owner.

Department of Commerce
A web site for minority business, or other small businesses, i.e., definitions of an employee versus a contractor working for you.

Other Resource Organizations Supporting Minority and Women Business Development

National Minority Suppliers Development Council
Providing a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses is the primary objective of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, one of the country's leading business membership organizations.

African-American Prosperity Partnership
Working to develop and promote sustainable wealth creation within the African-American business community of the greater Puget Sound. To engender and facilitate positive efforts resulting in effective ``Access'' `` Influence'' and ``Capacity'' within the African- American business community.

Business Constortium Fund
The Business Consortium Fund, Inc. (BCF) is a minority business development company created by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

National Black Chamber of Commerce
The National Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States and via interaction with the Black Diaspora.

Northwest Minority Business Council
The Northwest Minority Business Council (NMBC) is the regional affiliate of the non-profit National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). Through a nationwide network, the goal of our organization is to provide a direct link between corporate America, public agencies and minority-owned business across the United States.

Women Business Enterprise National Council
WBENC is the nation's leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States.

Contractors Development & Competitiveness Center (CDCC)
Here you will be able to find important information about who we are. And what services we offer to contractors and small business people in the greater Seattle and King County Area. Please also take a look at our Community Calendar for dates and times of meetings and events provided by the CDCC as a tool for local contractors.

William M. Factory Small Business Incubator
The Tacoma-Pierce County Small Business Incubator will provide an opportunity to nurture carefully selected, smaller, locally owned entrepreneurs through their formative years. Recruiting and assisting these businesses with high potential for growth, equates to increasing job opportunities for lower income and unemployed Tacoma-Pierce County residents. This sets the stage for future growth, job generation, creation of an expanded tax base and revitalization of this area.