METRO Small Business Certification

METRO, similar to the City of Houston, State of Texas and the U.S. Small Business Administration, has a qualifying certification program. However, the certification at METRO is determined by the owner(s) personal net worth, the size of the company in gross dollars earned, and/or the total number of full time people employed by the business. If a firm becomes METRO SB certified, it will automatically be registered in the METRO SB Program.

How to become METRO SB (Small Business) Certified or Recertified

METRO's Small Business Program is entirely race and gender neutral. This means that any small business, regardless of the owner's race or gender, is eligible to become certified. The METRO Small Business certification requires completion of a four-page application with federal tax information on the business and a personal net worth statement for each owner. After the application is completed and all the required documents are attached, the application must be submitted as instructed on the form. Applications can be e-mailed to sbcertifications@ridemetro.org or faxed to 713-758-9654.

Certification Application (PDF)
Recertification Application (PDF) - The METRO SB Certification is valid for three years and recertification is required to continue to participate in the Program.

Other Agency Accepted Certifications

METRO accepts the following certifications in addition to the METRO Small Business certification.

• City of Houston DBE – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• Small Business Administration DBE – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• TUCP: Texas Unified Certification Program DBE Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
• HMBC – Houston Minority Business Council (with METRO Certification Application and personal net worth statement)

Unacceptable Certifications

Unfortunately we are not able to accept the following certifications due to the differences in certification criteria.

• **HUB – Texas Historically Underutilized Business
• **MBE Only Certification – Minority Business Enterprise
• **WBE Only Certification – Women Business Enterprise
• **City of Houston SB Only Certification

* Please contact HMBC and advise them you wish to become METRO SB certified. METRO and HMBC have established a strategic alliance to fast-track HMBC certified firms that qualify as METRO SB firms.

** Please contact the City of Houston Affirmative Action Department or the originating certification agency and advise them you wish to certify as a DBE firm. If you do not qualify as a DBE firm, but qualify as a METRO SB firm, please contact Shurronda Murray at 713-739-4845 or via e-mail at sd01@ridemetro.org.

Benefits of METRO SB Certification

1. Small Business Directory - Your company will be listed in METRO's directory as a small business program participant and in the City of Houston and Texas Unified Certification Program directory as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participant.
2. Prompt payment of invoices - A certified business can invoice METRO every 15 calendar days and be paid every 15 calendar days instead of 30 calendar days.
3. Bonding costs assistance - A certified business can show the cost of bonds as a line item in the bid and be reimbursed by METRO.
4. Mobilization costs paid - A certified business can invoice METRO for mobilization costs and be paid within 15 calendar days.
5. Technical Assistance Services - A certified business can register for college-level and specific industry technical courses, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities offered. METRO may pay a portion of the cost of the courses.

How to become DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) Certified
Only the City of Houston Affirmative Action Department or the Small Business Administration provides the DBE certification in Houston, Texas. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program requires that any individual or group claiming ownership of a disadvantaged business enterprise must own at least 51% of the organization to be classified as eligible to participate. Applications for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program certification can be downloaded from the City of Houston Web site at www.houstontx.gov or picked up at the Affirmative Action & Contract Compliance Division at 611 Walker, Houston, Texas. If a company is currently certified as a DBE and is not part of the METRO SB Program, it can register in the METRO SB Program by providing a copy of the current DBE certificate.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Certification

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