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Strong & Starlike Consulting, Inc. managing the CERT program

The CERT certification collaborative is thrilled to announce an exciting new development in our commitment to supporting small, women, and minority-owned business enterprises.  Following a Request for Proposals process in the fall of 2023, Strong & Starlike Consulting, Inc. was awarded a contract to manage the CERT program.  This change will bring enhanced efficiency, greater accessibility, and improved resources for our certified businesses.

Strong & Starlike is dedicated to providing top-notch support and streamlined processes.  We believe this transition will foster even stronger partnerships and drive meaningful growth within our diverse business community.

We are enthusiastic about the positive impact this change will have and are confident that it will further empower small, women, and minority-owned businesses to thrive and succeed. For more information about the transition throughout, please visit the following site: https://certprogramtransition.strongandstarlike.com/. Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this exciting new chapter!

CERT Certification Collaborative Board of Directors (Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis, Ramsey County, City of Saint Paul)

CERT 2018 Logo

The local governments in the Twin Cities are using their buying power to create more opportunities for local businesses.

Saint Paul has joined with Minneapolis, Ramsey County, and Hennepin County to work more with companies that haven’t had many opportunities in the past. These include small businesses and businesses owned by women and minority communities. We use the Central Certification Program, or CERT, to make this happen.

The CERT program makes it easier for  small businesses in this area  to do business with these local governments: 

A map of counties in the Twin Cities area: Anoka, Benton, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota, and Pierce and St. Croix Counties in Wisoconsin.
Residents shop at Keg and Case Market in Saint Paul

Search the CERT Vendor Directory

This online marketplace is the best place to find small, women-owned, or BIPOC-owned businesses in the Twin Cities area for your company or organization to work with.

How to Apply for CERT Certification

The CERT application is easy! We just need to know about your business to verify that it is small and engages in the business practices it is advertised to do. This makes sure that government partners and others looking for small businesses can find you. 

Here is a step-by-step guide.

1

Look up your NAICS code

First, find your company’s North American Industry Code. You will need this six-digit number to determine if your business is eligible for CERT. (Your NAICS code is handy to know for other applications, too.) 

2

Check eligibility for CERT

Make sure your business is eligible for the CERT program. To qualify, your company must be: 

  • a small business by revenue,
  • majority owned by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
  • based principally in the 15-county Twin Cities metro area (shown above),
  • in business for at least one year (or with other documentation),
  • not a broker, manufacturer’s representative, or franchisee, and
  • not dominant in its field of operation. 

If you’d like, your certification can also indicate if your company is majority owned by a woman, an Asian-American or Pacific Islander, a Native American, an African-American, or a Hispanic person. 

3

Get your documents together

Assemble electronic versions of the documents you will need ahead of time. You will need:

  • A résumé and statement of job duties for each owner, officer, or manager.
  • Proof of income. You will need documents which show the yearly gross income of the company using tax returns.
  • IRS Form W-9. You can get this form from the IRS website.
  • State business filings. You will need documents filed with the state legally recognizing your company as a business entity, like corporate articles of organization or an LLC’s operating agreement. You can find them by searching the directories of Minnesota business filings or Wisconsin corporate records.
  • You may need other business documents that show how your company operates, like corporate minutes, bylaws, or ownership agreements.

During the application process, you will also be asked to download, sign, and submit two other documents: a New Application Attestation and a Tennessen Warning Notice. 

4

Apply!

Now you are ready to start your application. You will create an account, then enter your business information and upload your documents. 

5

Optional: Attend a free online training

In these free online training sessions, businesses can learn how to fill out and securely submit their application and documents using B2Gnow. These sessions are open to both new applicants and businesses already certified through CERT.