FOR RECOGNITION + CERTIFICATION

The South Carolina Division of Small and Minority Business Contracting and Certification offers deserved recognition for small and minority-owned businesses in the Palmetto State. With their certification program, they're the stamp of approval that can help you win more contracts and get your foot in the door with larger companies. Plus, they offer a lot of resources and assistance to help you grow your business and take on the big guys.

The S.C. Division of Small and Minority Business Contracting and Certification (SMBCC) connects minority- and women-owned small businesses to State contracting and procurement opportunities through the Material Management Office (MMO), while working with State agencies to implement and monitor minority-contracting programs in accordance with applicable policies, laws, and regulations.

The SMBCC aims to:

• Promote the growth and development of small and minority-owned businesses in South Carolina
• Act as an advocate so that an equitable portion of State procurement contracts are awarded to small and minority-owned businesses
• Encourage minority businesses that want state contracts to become certified

FOR ACCELERATION + REPRESENTATION

The Minority Business Accelerator has existed in the Upstate through the Greenville Chamber since 2012 and has been tremendously successful. Participants undergo intensive training for the first six months, then work closely with mentors, coaches, and MBA peers on their Strategic Growth Action Plans and implementation of learnings for the last six months. These firms leave the program with a three-year Strategic Growth Action Plan and are positioned for accelerated growth with enhanced access to capital and business networks.

To qualify for the year-long program, businesses must be based in the Upstate, socially or economically disadvantaged (minority, veteran or woman-owned, as well as those serving lower-income communities), have at least one other full-time employee, and be a member of the Greenville Chamber.

Since its inception, the South Carolina Minority Business Accelerator has graduated more than 120 participants, created 250 new full-time jobs, and participants have seen a combined $26 million in new revenue.