Are you a diverse small business owner? Read on to learn about statewide contracting opportunities.

MCE is proud to announce our third annual Certify & Amplify workshop. This free workshop will introduce local businesses to the benefits and opportunities available through the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Supplier Diversity Program. If you are a diverse small business owner, we want to help you certify in the Supplier Diversity program and amplify your business opportunities throughout the state.

Commonly referred to as “Supplier Diversity,” General Order (GO) 156 is a statewide program that encourages utilities to prioritize contracts and subcontracts from businesses that meet diversity qualifications. That is, businesses must be 51% woman-, minority-, LGBTQ-, or disabled veteran-owned enterprises. After being certified as a diverse supplier, qualified businesses are listed in the CPUC Clearinghouse, which utilities can then access for their contracting needs and to meet their contracting quotas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has squeezed our local businesses into even more competitive environments and tighter margins. Supplier Diversity certification provides an opportunity for local businesses to stand out among the competition. MCE has created the Certify & Amplify workshop to help local businesses benefit from the Supplier Diversity Program. When diverse community businesses thrive, we all thrive.

“I’ve held more than one government contract because of my supplier diversity status. Certifying your business is definitely worth it because with a little bit of work you can reap a big reward.” said Sylvia Luneau, CEO & Founder of PsiNapse Technology, at the 2019 MCE Certify & Amplify event. “I think supplier diversity is huge. The more diverse we are, the stronger we are as a community”

Register for the Certify & Amplify workshop here to join us virtually on June 10th at noon. The workshop will cover:

  • the benefits and opportunities available through this certification
  • how to qualify for California’s multimillion-dollar utility contracting clearinghouse
  • your questions, answered by representatives from the CPUC, the utility industry, and local businesses

Join us this summer to learn about this opportunity! To continue with the social distancing protocols of the last year, this workshop will be virtual. Learn about MCE’s past Certify & Amplify workshops in our Supplier Diversity Report.