Become Certified

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The Application Process

To apply for certification, your business must submit either a Uniform Certification Application for Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), or a Small Business Enterprise Application (SBE) and/or a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Application (DBE), along with required documentation, to the Office of Business and Job Opportunity. Your application will be reviewed and an on-site visit may occur. There is no fee to apply.

If you are applying for M/WBE certification and believe you are eligible for DBE certification as well, you should submit a DBE Application and Personal Net Worth Statement with your package.

Submit your application by mail to:

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Office of Business and Job Opportunity
233 Park Avenue South, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10003

Questions? E-mail OBJOcert@panynj.gov or call (212) 435-7808.

If your firm is denied certification, you must wait two years before reapplying. A firm that is "closed" must wait one year before reapplying.

With each application you should fill out a Marketing Data Form. The information listed on this form is entered into our database and is included as an additional feature in the Directory of Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises. Those who use this database to identify vendors will be able to view the information you provide. This free service is a valuable tool in reaching potential customers.

The following forms, grouped by category, must be submitted with any of the certification applications.

All Applications	Marketing Data Form Create or update vendor profile
Architectural and Engineering Firms	Architectural & Engineering Specialty Form Professional Service Firm Questionnaire
Construction Firms	Construction Reference Sheet

If you are already M/WBE-certified and the reevaluation date on your certificate is approaching, you must fill out an M/WBE Recertification Application to maintain your status.

Register your business with the Port Authority's Procurement Department by creating a vendor profile to be included in its vendor database, which serves as the prime resource for Port Authority personnel. The vendor database is organized by type of product or service delivered by a business. Lists of certified firms registered in this database are made available to Port Authority departments, prime contractors, tenants and other businesses in the region to help them recruit qualified M/WBEs.