How to Get Certified with the State

Get the inside scoop on scoring your Small Business certification and boosting your California business game.
About this Event

How to Get Certified with the State

Become Contract Ready & Unlock More Government Contracting OpportunitiesOrganizer

Minorea-BEM

In Partnership with

Inclusive Action for the City

Date & Time

Thursday, July 9, 2026

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST

Location

Inclusive Action for the City

2900 E Cesar E. Chavez Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90033

Price

FREE

Registration Required

Event Description

Ready to expand your contracting opportunities?

One of the first steps toward becoming Contract Ready is making sure your business is properly registered and certified within the procurement systems used by government agencies and many large organizations.

Join Minorea-BEM and Inclusive Action for the City for this hands-on, in-person workshop where you'll learn how to successfully complete your Small Business Certification.

This certification can significantly increase your visibility and eligibility for contracting opportunities with State agencies, public entities, prime contractors, and organizations that actively seek certified Small Businesses.

Rather than simply explaining the process, we'll walk through the certification together so you understand each step and leave with the knowledge needed to complete your application confidently.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to strengthen your business infrastructure, this workshop is designed to help you move one step closer to becoming truly Contract Ready.

During this workshop you will learn:

✅ What the California Small Business Certification is

✅ Why the certification matters for contractors and small businesses

✅ Eligibility requirements

✅ Required documentation before you begin

✅ How to complete the DGS certification application

✅ Common mistakes to avoid

✅ How certified businesses gain greater visibility with buyers

✅ How certification complements other certifications such as DBE, DVBE, and local Small Business programs

✅ Next steps after becoming certified

✅ How certification fits into your overall Contract Ready strategy

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is ideal for:

• General Contractors

• Specialty Contractors

• Construction Companies

• Subcontractors

• Suppliers

• Professional Service Firms

• Emerging Contractors

• Small Business Owners

• Minority-Owned Businesses

• Women-Owned Businesses

• Veteran-Owned Businesses

• Entrepreneurs interested in public contracting

What You'll Need

To get the most out of this workshop, attendees are encouraged to bring:

• Laptop computer

• Business information

• EIN (if available)

• California business registration information

• Business owner identification

• Any documentation that may assist with the certification process

(Our team will explain exactly what is needed during the workshop.)

Why Attend?

Becoming certified isn't just about checking a box.

It's about positioning your business for more opportunities, increasing your credibility, and preparing your company to compete for contracts with agencies and organizations throughout California.

At Minorea-BEM, we believe certification is one of the foundational building blocks of becoming Contract Ready.

Join us and take the next step toward growing your business. Construction

#Small Business

#California Contractors

#Government Contracting

#Public Works

#Construction Business

#Procurement

#Business Certification

#Small Business Certification

#Contract Ready

Business Development

Construction Networking

Emerging Contractors