The SBA HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least three percent of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year. There have been three major purposes for these changes including improving the customer experience, increasing program utilization, and expanding and stabilizing the footprint. This contracting program for businesses in historically underutilized business zones now has:
- Streamlined application process
- A user-friendly application portal will be introduced in late 2020.
- Simplified contract verification
- A firm certified at the time of initial offer will generally be considered a HUBZone small business throughout the life of that contract, and a firm that receives a HUBZone contract must attempt to maintain 35% employment of HUBZone residents by demonstrating that it employs at least 20% HUBZone residents.
- Expansion into rural areas & more
- New Governor-designated HUBZone areas will reach more rural communities with high unemployment.
HUBZone Program Benefits
The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses in historically underutilized business zones. It also gives preferential consideration to those businesses in full and open competition.
Joining the this program makes your business eligible to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also get a 10 percent price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions.
HUBZone-certified businesses can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs they qualify for.
Program Qualifications
- Small businesses
- Be at least 51% owned and controlled by US citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, a Native Hawaiian organization, or an Indian Tribe
- Have principal office located in a HUBZone
- Have at least 35% of its employees live in a HUBZone
Click here to view the Interactive Map.
Note: Willmar is not in a qualifying area, however areas nearby are. This interactive map covers the US.
If you have questions about the HUBZone, contact our experts today!
