Small Business Enterprise Program

Print this page
Text resize An Icon representing a Plus symbol. Click to increase font size. An Icon representing a Minus symbol. Click to decrease font size.

Small Business Enterprise Program

The City of St. Petersburg’s Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program, coordinated by the Office of Supplier Diversity, fosters growth in the economy and provides opportunities for participation in City construction projects and the procurement of goods and services.

The SBE program gives smaller businesses a chance to gain exposure to large-scale projects and experience working alongside big firms. The 3-year certification is free with required training, covers a 5-county area, and is race and gender-neutral.

Eligibility and Criteria for Businesses

  • Independently owned, operated, and controlled
  • Not dominant in its field of operation
  • Serves a commercially useful function
  • Has been in operation for one year
  • Defined as an SBE local small business:
    • Has 50 full-time, permanent employees or less
    • Has an annual sales volume (averaged over the previous three years) of $5 million or less for Goods/Services/Supplies, or $8 million or less for Construction
    • Must be domiciled in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee, or Polk Counties (a post office box is not acceptable as a business address)

Benefits of Becoming a Certified SBE

  • Enhanced contracting opportunities
  • Discounts for goods and services (1 – 15% for bids and quotes)
  • Solicitation of certified SBEs for all sheltered market contracts
  • Specialty workshops, seminars, and training opportunities

SBE Certification/Re-Certification Process

*NOTE* If your firm holds an active small business certification with the City of Tampa or Hillsborough County, you may apply to have your outside certification recognized by the City of St. Petersburg through an abbreviated application.  Please review the section below titled Recognition of Certifications from Outside Programs for further instructions. 

For all others, follow these steps:

Visit:  City of St. Petersburg - Contracts Compliance Management System (gob2g.com)

  1. Click Apply for/Renew Certification.
  2. Click Create Account under New Certification
  3. Fill out and submit application.

NOTE: Office of Supplier Diversity staff will contact you if there are deficiencies or additional information needed.

Recertification

*NOTE* If your certification with the City of St. Petersburg is approaching expiration or already expired, and your firm holds an active small business certification with the City of Tampa or Hillsborough County, you may apply to have your outside certification recognized by the City of St. Petersburg through an abbreviated application. Please review the section below titled Recognition of Certifications from Outside Programs for further instructions.

For all others, follow these steps:

Visit: City of St. Petersburg - Contracts Compliance Management System (gob2g.com)

  1. Click Apply for/Renew Certification.
  2. Click Login under Renew Your Certification
    • Note:  If you are renewing, but have not created a B2Gnow account, please do so using the Create Account link under New Certifications:  Your firm is not currently certified. 
      Contact a Certification Specialist below if you need assistance or have other issues with login credentials.
  3. Fill out and submit application.

Outside Certification Recognition

Visit: City of St. Petersburg - Contracts Compliance Management System (gob2g.com)

  1. Click Login button and log in with your existing B2Gnow account credentials
  2. On the Certification Application page, proceed to the Select an Option box.
  3. Click Your firm is NOT currently certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) with the City of St. Petersburg
  4. From the drop-down options, click Your firm is currently certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) or Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) with one of our recognized agencies.
  5. Click Submit an Outside Recognition Application

The City of St. Petersburg accepts certification from approved outside certification programs.  However, formal reciprocation is not established, and outside programs may not accept or recognize City of St. Petersburg certification.

NOTE: Office of Supplier Diversity staff will contact you if there are deficiencies or additional information needed.

Are you in need of an SBE-certified company to furnish goods or for construction-related purposes? Visit our SBE Search Page and click “Search Registered Directory”.  This is searchable by business name, specialization, location and contact information.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) vendors are only certified as meeting the established criteria of the existing SBE program and not certified as qualified in any other area.  The city is not responsible for and disclaims any representation made by any SBE vendor.  You must do the appropriate due diligence before selecting an SBE vendor.

Certified SBE Search

Are you in need of an SBE-certified company to furnish goods or for construction-related purposes? Search by business name, specialization, location, and contact information.

SBE Search Form 

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) vendors are only certified as meeting the established criteria of the existing SBE program and not certified as qualified in any other area. The City is not responsible for and disclaims any representation made by any SBE vendor. You must do the appropriate due diligence before selecting an SBE vendor.