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[January 19, 2021] - Updates from Your Association
[January 8, 2021] - Continued Work with the Governor's Office; New PPP Rules
Local Updates: ORLA is communicating daily with the Governor’s Office as the suffering and economic toll continues to push hospitality businesses to the brink. Our latest conversations are revolving around:
Federal Updates: On Wednesday, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released several interim final rules related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the second draw of PPP loans as outlined in the recently passed Economic Aid Act. The SBA announced that PPP will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. The National Restaurant Association has distilled this new PPP information into a seven-page "user manual" that can be accessed online here: PPP 2nd Draw: Helping Restaurants and Small Businesses. The American Hotel & Lodging Association shared a few details on the eligibility and documentation requirements for new and second draw PPP loans in their latest communication to the industry. Hoteliers considering a second draw of PPP are urged to contact their lenders and begin gathering the data and information necessary to complete the application process as soon as possible.
Additional Resources:
For more information and updates, visit SBA.gov/PPP and Treasury.gov/CARES.
[January 6, 2021] – Formal Request Submitted by ORLA for a Dedicated State Relief Fund for Hospitality
In Monday's blog post we referenced the importance of additional relief funds to further support Oregon’s struggling hospitality industry. Yesterday we formally submitted our request for a dedicated relief fund on top of funds received by hospitality operators to date managed by counties, Travel Oregon, and Business Oregon. The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board is scheduled to meet January 8 and you can read our formal request through the following link:
[January 4, 2021] – 13 Counties Now Open for Indoor Dining / 23 Counties Still Labeled as ‘Extreme Risk’
This past week, Governor Brown announced the movement of 6 counties in Oregon from ‘Extreme Risk’ to ‘High Risk.’ The move results in the availability of indoor dining in these counties as well as 7 others who had already qualified as ‘Low’ to ‘High Risk’ counties. Indoor dining went back online as of January 1 for Clatsop, Lincoln, Douglas, Coos, Morrow, and Baker counties. For a review of activity restrictions in each of the 4 risk categories, click the following link: Regardless of risk category, restaurant and lodging operations across the state remain challenged with ongoing hardship due to health emergency restrictions, consumer demand, or a combination of both. The development this past week confirming the passage of an additional federal aid package in Washington DC was welcome news. Restaurant and hotel operations will be able to secure 3.5 times their monthly payroll costs (Total loan cap of $2 million) in the form of a forgivable loan which will certainly help many operators during the challenging winter months ahead. Additional communication and details will continue to be released by lending institutions who will participate in the next round of Payroll Protection Program loans for small businesses. Make sure to stay in close contact with your CPA, tax advisor, and/or lending institution to take full advantage of the next round of PPP funding. The Oregon State Legislature has passed legislation creating a new revenue opportunity through the passage of Senate Bill 1801. Restaurant cocktails can now head out the door as a part of food deliveries. In addition, the costs incurred by restaurants who choose to partner with third party delivery companies has been capped at 15 percent statewide. To review all the details and text of the bill signed into law by Governor Brown on December 23, click the following link: ORLA continues the important work of preparing for ongoing communication with the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature which will meet again in the coming weeks. The joint committee of both state representatives and senators makes important investment decisions with dollars made available through federal aid packages. We will continue to advocate for additional relief funds from the emergency board to further assist hospitality businesses as vaccine supply and access becomes more readily available to Oregonians in the months ahead. Also, the 2021 session of the Oregon Legislature starts later this month and we must address the inequity in charging Oregon’s restaurant and lodging establishments higher unemployment insurance taxes for Covid related furloughs and layoffs. ORLA will work closely with elected officials in the Oregon House and Senate to address these inequities as employers prepare to pay first quarter taxes for 2021 in the month of April. And in case you missed it, DOL released a final rule on tip pooling December 22, 2020 which will go into effect across the country on February 20, 2021. The final rule further establishes the legality of overseeing and managing a tip pool that includes staff who do not customarily and regularly receive tips by directly interfacing with a customer. Announcement of this final rule codifies our collective win advocating for the importance of tip pools. Read more here.
[December 21, 2020] - Update from the CEO on federal and state developments
Congress unveiled a $900 billion relief bill to provide short-term economic relief to the country in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan includes several items that will benefit restaurants and lodging establishments, most importantly a second round of access to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with unique provisions aimed to assist the restaurant and lodging industries, which continue to endure unparalleled job and revenue losses. The federal plan announced today targets restaurant and lodging relief with provisions including:
Other provisions in the bill that will benefit hospitality operations include the deductibility of business expenses paid with PPP loans, enhancement of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), extension of the augmented Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), and increased tax deduction for business meals. In other news, the Oregon State Legislature is holding a third Special Session of 2020 and is poised to pass To-Go Cocktails legislation as well as statewide caps on third party technology and delivery expenses charged to restaurants. Today’s developments in the Oregon Legislature are expected to assist operators in realizing additional revenue for cocktail programs accompanying food purchases for takeout and delivery while also assisting operators with cost control on expenses. Our ongoing communication with the media and with our stakeholders throughout the state will continue to acknowledge these tools will help some restaurant and lodging establishments stay in business while not doing much to help others. The depth and severity of the crisis continues to create winners and losers inside of specific industries as well as more broadly. Oregon’s second largest private sector industry needs more help and we will fight for ongoing assistance in our advocacy efforts with both the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board which will meet again in January as well as the longer term 2021 Oregon Legislative Session which starts in January and will most likely end around the beginning of Summer. Much more needs to be accomplished and we will remain vigilant in pursuing all avenues of relief in our mission to help save as many Oregon restaurant and lodging establishments as possible in our state.
[December 18, 2020] - Here’s the latest from your state association.
Watch for another update next week before Christmas with more developments following Monday's Special Session. Special Session This Monday - The third special session of 2020 takes place for one day on Monday, Dec. 21. Thank you to ORLA's Director of Government Affairs Greg Astley for providing testimony last night as part of two public hearings scheduled for this Monday special session. The public hearing last night will be followed by a second hearing this Saturday (more info). ORLA is well positioned to provide leadership in getting LC 10 passed and we believe we have favorable chances in getting there. Federal Elected Leaders Close in on Covid Stimulus Deal - Progress continues on a COVID relief package and a deal could be announced soon. The proposal would include roughly $325 billion in small business relief, including $257 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program that helps employers keep workers who otherwise might go on unemployment. Both the National Restaurant Association and American Hotel & Lodging Association continue pressing to lower the revenue loss for eligibility from 30% to 25%, increase overall size of the loans, and allow deductibility for business expenses paid with PPP loans. ORLA will keep members apprised of the rollout if a PPP deal is reached. It's not too late to share your voice, visit ORLA's website to learn how you can take action. Status of HB 4204 - We're hearing from lodging operators asking if there's a possibility at getting an extension to HB 4204 which provided flexibility to operators for mortgage obligations with financial institutions with an expiration on that flexibility coming up on December 31. We know the extension will not be a part of the special session on Monday but ORLA is still moving forward in advocating for an extension in the upcoming 2021 session. The initial passage of HB 4204 has proved to be a unique tool available to our industry here in Oregon that many other states do not have. We feel fortunate to have it in the first place and will work hard to get it extended if at all possible. Give the Gift of Oregon and Get a Lodging Certificate - If you’re looking for last minute gifts for the holidays there are still several lodging gift certificates available which directly support ORLA’s nonprofit, the Oregon Hospitality Foundation. Most of the gift certificates are worth 40-90% more than the minimum donation value and make great gifts. Choose your destination here: oregonrla.org/winter.html.
[December 10, 2020] - ORLA Engages in 3 Frontline Battles to Save Hospitality Businesses
ORLA is anticipating the announcement of a third special session of the Oregon Legislature very soon and the session will most likely take place this coming week before the holidays are upon us. Your state association is keenly aware your ability to stay in business while adhering to business restrictions laid out in the ‘Extreme Risk’ category for applicable counties is near impossible. The ongoing taking of your dining rooms while paying all the bills associated with those dining rooms is anything but sustainable. ORLA is engaging on 3 frontlines for the foreseeable future with our #1 goal being saving as many restaurant and lodging locations in Oregon as possible. Those 3 frontlines are:
We realize everyone is exhausted from an unbelievable year. But we need you to find that extra gear. Stand up, share your story, and make a difference for yourself, your business, and the Oregonians depending on us who no longer have a job.
[December 7, 2020] - Congress Must Support Restaurants This Year!
Congress needs to hear from restaurants today as they are in session for only a few days more. If they do not get their job done, restaurants will be in the cold until this February at the earliest. Read the National Restaurant Association's letter to Congress sent today along with the results of their latest survey on the economic health of the industry: Oregon Findings (full survey results):
National Findings (full survey results):
Congress needs to hear from you in these final days of 2020! We're helping the National Restaurant Association put the pressure on Congress to take action for the future of the restaurant industry.
For months, Congress has been trapped in a political tug-of-war while restaurants continue to go dark. A group of moderate Democrats and Republicans last week unveiled a compromise plan that has brought both parties back to the negotiating table. They are calling for a $909 billion relief bill, including a second round of Paycheck Protection Program grants, which with improvements could provide immediate assistance to restaurants.
We need Congress to pass the Blueprint for Restaurant Revival, but we also need to ensure they at least make a “down payment” on a relief plan before leaving town for the year. Our industry simply cannot wait for relief any longer. Efforts in Washington to find the “perfect” solution are laudable, but the lack of progress in the meantime has led too many operators to give up on the government and close down for good. Thank you for your continued support!
[December 4, 2020] - Updates from Your Association
Outdoor Dining ORLA is in active discussions with the Oregon Fire Marshall’s Office (OFMO) to ensure our industry has the guidance necessary to provide safe outdoor dining space. As soon as next week the OFMO will have a new “outdoor checklist” that aligns with Oregon Health Authority guidelines, providing operators with a 'one stop shop' resource to know what they can do with dining outdoors and how to get there. We'll keep in contact with Assistant Chief Deputy Chad Hawkins and the Fire Marshall's Office as they finalize this resource so we can get it posted and out to all operators across the state. [To continue reading previous blog posts from ORLA's CEO, click "Read More" to the right]
6 Comments
 Why, Where to Begin, and Current Resources
"The really important thing is that we be vulnerable with ourselves and with our teams in asking why Oregon doesn’t look like the rest of the country. We need to understand how we are influenced and make decisions based on biases that we have been conditioned with our entire lives. Recognizing the environment in which we live and operate can at times be a hard pill to swallow. But unless we are willing to challenge our status quo, we will be unable to evolve… and if we aren’t evolving, we are dying off….” Ken Henson, Director of Restaurant Operations, Pelican Brewing Company & Kiwanda Ken’s comment is so powerful to me. Being vulnerable and realizing that many of us lack the perspective and experience necessary to plan, create, and implement programs that encourage representation and participation of diverse groups in our organizations may feel daunting. And, though many of us have the desire, creating welcoming environments that are inclusive also of all guests’ needs is similarly challenging when we recognize that unconscious bias is a reality. What resources are available to help understand these challenges? I asked a few industry colleagues, who have been invested in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work for quite some time, for recommendations and I’m including several of their favorites below. I will be posting more soon on the Foundation’s webpages. ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED FOR STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND INVESTMENT Oregon history: why do we find ourselves where we are? Dawnielle Tehama, executive director of the Willamette Valley Visitor’s Association recommends this article to help everyone understand the history behind and the extent of bias which continues to present challenges in our state: https://bit.ly/RHofPDX. “Oregon is often touted as the most liberal State in the union, but the state continues to crawl from its deeply racist history…. In 1844, the provisional government of the territory passed a law banning slavery…. Any black person remaining would be flogged publicly every six months until he left. Five years later, another law was passed that forbade free African Americans from entering into Oregon.” Even as recently as 2016, “Portland is the whitest big city in America, with a population that is 72.2 percent white and only 6.3 percent African American… Because Oregon, and specifically Portland, its biggest city, are not very diverse, many white people may not even begin to think about, let alone understand, the inequalities.” Understanding unconscious bias – This exercise, a free online tool from Harvard’s Project Implicit®, can help team members understand the term and how, despite best intention, most of us do have unconscious bias which affects the way we perceive, approach, and respond to those who are different than us. The surprising results of these tests often convince participants about their own need for training assistance and may help create buy in: Implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest. SUCCESSFUL MODELS Company culture first – As the Director of People & Culture for Kimpton’s Portland properties, Alex Thompson is intrigued with successful DEI hiring, mentoring, and company culture models. He notes “While Slack is about as far away from hospitality as you can get and this article is a few years old, the principles are exactly the same. Key points include, ‘…the absence of a single diversity leader seems to signal that diversity and inclusion aren’t standalone missions, to be shunted off to a designated specialist, but are rather intertwined with the company's overall strategy.’” https://bit.ly/TAslackdiversity Alex says he also appreciates this article, https://wapo.st/3g4nb95, which notes, “DEI-forced training appears to have the opposite of the intended effect, companies need to find more organic ways to communicate values and expectations and influence outcomes.” Intention and result – Ken Henson shared the following with me, “Doing the right thing and wanting equality and inclusion for all isn’t enough. There are studies, such as this article in the Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2001/04/race-matters), which document how and why even the best-intentioned recruiting policies often fail from lack of insight and proper support.” RESOURCES The Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), whose mission is to “bring the economic benefits of diversity and inclusion to the food and hospitality industry by building bridges and delivering solutions,” offers a myriad of resources. These include free webinars ranging from ‘Moving Beyond Unconscious Bias with Cultural Intelligence’ to ‘Insights for Building Effective Multicultural Teams during COVID-19.’ Find out more including podcasts, Town Hall meetings, and speakers for hire at mfha.net/category/news/webinars. The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute collaborated with MFHA to create a five-part interactive training suite for employees that focuses on unconscious bias with topics that include Understanding Bias, The Impact of Bias at Work, and Dealing with Bias: Ours and Others.’ A Manager’s Training Edition is also available, visit ahlei.org/program/unconscious-bias. Recommended Reading - On Dawnielle Tehama’s extensive list of recommended reading resources she includes this article https://bit.ly/3qmH9AG, written in 2017 and updated July 2020. Topic groups include Talking About Racism, Anti-Racist Facilitation, and The Role of White People in Anti-Racist Work. The Oregon Hospitality Foundation is exploring opportunities to collaborate with statewide hospitality partners, as well as our counterparts in other states, with the intent to create an unconscious bias video training toolkit for Oregon’s frontline hospitality service staff. We will provide updates as we make progress with identifying funding for this project. “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” - Leo Tolstoy In the meantime, I would love to hear of your own favorite resources on these topics, so please feel free to drop me a line! | Wendy Popkin, Oregon Hospitality Foundation About Wendy Popkin is the Executive Director of the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3 dedicated to providing educational, training, and philanthropic support to Oregon’s restaurant, lodging, and tourism industry. Wendy is a 35-year career veteran who describes herself as “fanatically enthusiastic about helping others enjoy the same type of fabulous career opportunities I have enjoyed in the hospitality industry.” OregonHospitalityFoundation.org  Confidential, No-Cost Advisor Network Made Possible by Coronavirus Relief Funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2020 Contact: Terry Hopkins, Regional Representative, ORLA 541.441.2219 | THopkins@OregonRLA.org Wilsonville, OR– The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) and Oregon’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network are pleased to announce the launch of a new, no-cost, one on one confidential advisor network. The Oregon Restaurant Covid Assistance Program includes a network of seven professional restaurant consultants ready to assist industry operators with ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic. “We feel a strong sense of urgency to build program awareness now as independent restaurant operators wrestle with what comes next,” said Terry Hopkins, Regional Representative for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “It is time for operators to engage in an exercise of humility because no one is bigger than COVID-19 and every single operator can benefit from an additional expert perspective.” Focal areas for advisor support were determined by a mass survey of restaurant operators earlier this fall. Results from survey feedback resulted in the following core areas of concentration:
Advisors are standing by to engage in confidential consulting conversations and are paid through SBA CARES Act relief funds authorized by the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature. Restaurants operators participating in the program will incur no cost for services rendered. “It was incredibly important to us to prop up a program that allows operators to sign up in less than 5 minutes to access these free top-tier consulting services,” said Hopkins. “We know this will prove to be a unique opportunity for restaurant operators who choose to take a leap of faith and engage an advisor. We can save independent restaurants in this state by sharing expertise and resources that assist our small businesses in finding a path forward.” To sign up for advisor connectivity and to review the list of participating advisors, visit: Oregonsbdc.org/orca. ### The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which before COVID-19 provided over 180,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently, approximately 55,000 of those workers, or 30%, do not have work available to return to. The Oregon Small Business Development Centers work in partnership with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association in providing vital assistance to Oregon's restaurants. We welcome industry members' article submissions relevant to the restaurant and lodging industry in Oregon. Association members are primarily considered and encouraged to share expertise and perspective following the guidelines below for submitting an article. Please note, we do not publish press releases. The criteria outlined below in no way guarantees your submission will be published at all, or that a submission will appear in any particular issue. The submission should satisfy the criteria, but is entirely subject to editing for length and content.
To submit an article for consideration in any of ORLA's communication vehicles please email Editor, Lori Little, at LLittle@OregonRLA.org. Guest Blog Submission Guidelines
To submit a guest blog post, contact ORLA’s Director of Business Development Marla McColly at 503.428.8694. Guest blog posts are considered sponsored opportunities.  A Family of Hardworking Winners
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life." – Amy Poehler, actress Many of us who have been around for a while refer to those in our industry as our “Hospitality Family.” The more someone works around those who are committed to service, the more connected and inspired they themselves often become. With the onset of the pandemic, never has the innovative spirit, business savvy, and caring soul of our ‘family’ been so challenged. Our team at the Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF) and the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association see the daily struggles of our hospitality business partners and have been inspired by the innovative solutions launched in response. Encouraged by these efforts to address their business’ and community’s needs, we too have initiated proactive efforts in support. FOUNDATION INITIATIVES In my last article, I mentioned that the foundation’s Board of Directors took steps to strengthen our organization, including: renaming ourselves the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, expanding our mission to support philanthropic projects, launching new fundraising programs, and creating new training support appropriate to current needs. What’s happened since? New Training We have received requests for training assistance with the unique guest service and communication difficulties currently being experienced because of the pandemic. In response, we are creating an online series of easily digestible micro-sessions that share tips on how associates can provide positive service while still supporting safety protocols. The theme, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ focuses on helping prevent uncomfortable scenarios from escalating and causing unwelcome consequences by anticipating potential scenarios and practicing responses. Topics include;
We are grateful for a grant from Travel Oregon, sponsorship from Dutch Bros Coffee and EPB&B insurance, and our partnership with Togather Restaurant Consulting and VPW Media for their project support. We expect the series to be released in early fall. See release updates at OregonGuestServiceSafety.org. Takeout and A Movie Fundraiser Currently, we have raised and donated money to fourteen restaurants throughout the state who are providing a variety of solutions for helping feed those with food insecurity. Many of these restaurants are working to incorporate ongoing food support as part of their business model. Read more about these folks who are working hard to help change people’s lives by providing them with caring meals in our Champions article on page 16. You can also see a press release summary at bit.ly/OHFhelpawards. Additional awards are still available, see the application at OregonRLA.org/takeoutapp. We also collaborated with Cycle Oregon and Filmed by Bike to present a film festival and Q&A that focused attention on the economic benefits of the hospitality and tourism industry to Oregon’s communities and now our industry’s own critical need for public support. A portion of the event’s proceeds were donated to the Cycle Oregon Fund, a grant program that supports projects including tourism and community projects particularly in rural areas. Education Top of mind for many families are the myriad of struggles encountered in coping with the new demands of virtual education for students, parents, teachers, and our entire education system. We have been actively involved with discovering and creating resources for those who use our workforce training and Career & Technical Education (CTE) curriculum, such as ProStart. One example was our partnership with Rouxbe, an online culinary school for professionals, to provide their academic resources and videos to ProStart schools on a free trial basis and later for reduced fees. We are also seeking sponsorships and grant funding that will enable us to provide online and on-demand videos to support teachers’ virtual curriculum needs. The vision is to feature industry colleagues who will highlight various aspects such as job opportunities, facility tours, career pathways, customer service techniques, new safety protocols in place, and/or offer engaging skill-building demonstrations. Additionally, we are collaborating with Chemeketa Community College, the Oregon Coast Visitor’s Association, and the state’s workforce boards to ensure that quality hospitality training is available and accessible online, particularly for entry-level and supervisory positions. The goal is to help employees ‘hit the ground running,’ in order to reduce onsite training time needed and offer immediate value to employers. RESILIENCE I have yet to find the right words that portray my realistic recognition of the enormity of current challenges, particularly for our industry, nor my optimism that we will eventually recover. However, no one knows how to work harder than our Hospitality Family, so maybe the quote below is appropriate and helps explain my optimism about the outcome of our efforts, together. “As much as talent counts, effort counts twice.” - Angela Duckworth, American academic, psychologist and popular science author HOW YOU CAN HELP Unfortunately, looking toward the upcoming fiscal year, the foundation anticipates a 75 percent drop in revenue due to contract and sponsor funding reductions from affected partners. Your in-kind and financial contributions are greatly appreciated so that we may sustain and continue our good work. You can donate today at bit.ly/OHFDonation. Thank you. | Wendy Popkin, Oregon Hospitality Foundation About Wendy Popkin is the Executive Director of the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3 dedicated to providing educational, training, and philanthropic support to Oregon’s restaurant, lodging, and tourism industry. Wendy is a 35-year career veteran who describes herself as “fanatically enthusiastic about helping others enjoy the same type of fabulous career opportunities I have enjoyed in the hospitality industry.” OregonHospitalityFoundation.org  The word of the year is “unprecedented.” In our lifetimes, we have never seen such devastation – lives, property, and businesses lost to circumstances outside of our control.
What is incredible is how many of you have responded. You saw the need and rose to the occasion, offering lodging for people who have lost everything, free meals for the community, and hope for the future. There is a reason Oregon is known for its hospitality, and it’s on full display in the most challenging of times for our industry. Thank you! We couldn’t be more proud of our community’s spirit and resolve. Because we know how challenging circumstances are right now, here is some information you need to know in response to Oregon’s wildfires. Public Safety Power Shutoffs Please be aware of current policies from your regional utilities. Both Portland General Electric and Pacific Power have indicated they will continue with policies to cut power in extreme conditions. Pacific Power has a monitor to check for potential areas affected by this policy. Portland General Electric has enacted shutoffs in response to the conditions near Mt. Hood; read more on the PGE FAQ. Utilities are generally looking at several factors before making this decision and are committing to proactive communication. The Pacific Power criteria includes:
Be sure to have a plan in place for such emergency conditions. Contact your local health authority for more information on what they would require for maintaining operations in an emergency. Feel free to contact your Membership Representative with questions or to connect with others who have explored this subject. How Can I Help? Please visit Travel Oregon’s Ways To Help During Oregon Wildfires, a guide for where to donate money, supplies, and volunteer time. To get the latest updates and links to safety registries, mental health resources, current condition reports, and more, visit Wildfire.oregon.gov. If you are looking for hotels offering discounts for fire evacuees in the valley, visit Travel Portland's resource page. Nicole Peterson ORLA Government Affairs Coordinator Get Certified through the Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity
Some government projects have specific requirements or targets for their contracts to be awarded to minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and emerging small businesses. The primary goal of Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) is to level the playing field by providing certified firms a fair opportunity to compete for government contracts regardless of owner ethnicity, gender, disability, or firm size. Discover which certifications you qualify for. Once certified, you are added to a database searched by many municipalities, state, and pseudo-government agencies, increasing your opportunities to compete for public contracting. Certifying your business for as many certifications as qualified for helps make it possible to grow and overcome barriers. Learn more about getting certified by visiting the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity online. |
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