Summer 2021 | Insights to Opportunity
www.houstontx.gov/obo | Page 6
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
OBO Offers 24/7 Access to Pre-Certification Workshops By: Enzo Mungu
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o assist minority- and womenowned small business enterprises secure contracting opportunities, as well as to cultivate a robust supplier diversity pipeline, the Office of Business Opportunity facilitates the City of Houston’s Certification Program. This program, managed by OBO’s Certification division, offers the following local certifications: Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise (PDBE). OBO also administers the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certifications on behalf of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). An integral and strongly recommended step in the certification process is taking part in the Pre-Certification Workshops offered by the Certification Division. These workshops provide an overview of each certification type; the requirements and procedures to guide business owners through the application process; and discusses the benefits of certification. “Although participation is optional and not mandatory, these workshops are an invaluable step,” said Timothy Warren, OBO’s Certification Division Manager. “Being ready to submit the proper documents and required information will help greatly in avoiding delays in receiving your certification.” Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was routine to hold in-person PreCertification Workshops in OBO’s offices on the 7th floor of 611 Walker St., every Thursday, except holidays. At the onset of COVID-19, in adherence to various social distancing restrictions, OBO offered several ways in which the community could safely and
ON-DEMAND: Newly updated Pre-Certification Workshops in English and Spanish are available for viewing any time at OBO’s YouTube channel. Live, virtual sessions are also available at 2 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month.
continuously access the workshops: • Live, virtual Pre-Certification Workshops every first and third Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. Registration is required for these workshops, and participants have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation. • On-demand Pre-Certification Workshops in English and Spanish which require no registration. These workshops can be accessed 24/7 on OBO’s YouTube Channel at @ houstontxobo. • Downloadable PDF copies of the PreCertification Workshop presentations, which can serve as a reference while completing the application process. As restrictions on in-person gatherings are lifted, look for notifications of inperson workshops, in addition to the continued provision of virtual offerings.
UPCOMING PRE-CERTIFICATION WORKSHOPS LIVE INSTRUCTION (VIRTUAL): Tuesday, July 20, 2021 | 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | 2 p.m. ON-DEMAND: Access 24/7 on YouTube @HoustonTXOBO. Also in Spanish, and requires no registration.
For more information regarding PreCertification Workshops, or to register for a live workshop, click on the Certifications tab at houstontx.gov/obo.
