The new guidelines for state spending make it imperative
that all qualified businesses that employ less than 250
employees or have averaged less than $10 million in revenue
over the last three years get certified by the Virginia
Department of Minority Business Enterprise (VDMBE) as
a small business.
Small businesses currently certified by VDMBE as minority-
or woman-owned can now request dual certification to
include a small designation. This designation makes businesses
eligible to participate in the new state spending guidelines.
Failure to properly certify could result in ineligibility
to participate in the set-aside program.
For more information on becoming SWAM
certified, contact the Virginia Department of Minority
Business Enterprise (DMBE) at (800) 223-0761 or (804)
786-6585. The department's Web
site is also available.