Minority and Women-Owned Contractor Businesses in Queens

Minority- and women-owned contractor businesses (MWBEs) in Queens operate within a structured certification and procurement framework governed by New York City and New York State agencies. These businesses span every major trade category — from general contracting and roofing to electrical work and plumbing — and access distinct bidding opportunities, set-aside contracts, and capacity-building programs tied to their certified status. Understanding how this sector is structured matters because public contracting in New York City increasingly ties participation goals and contract awards to verified MWBE standing.

Definition and scope

A Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) is a for-profit business in which minority group members or women own, operate, and control at least 51 percent of the enterprise (NYC Department of Small Business Services, MWBE Program). For contractors working in Queens, two primary certification pathways apply:

1. NYC MWBE Certification — administered by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), covering participation in City-funded contracts.
2. NYS MWBE Certification — administered by the Empire State Development (ESD) Division of Minority and Women's Business Development, covering State-funded and State-assisted contracts (Empire State Development, MWBE).

Minority group categories recognized under New York State law include Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and American Indians, as defined in New York Executive Law Article 15-A. Women of any background constitute a separate qualifying category.

Scope and coverage: This page covers MWBE classification as it applies to contractors physically operating in or pursuing work within the Borough of Queens, New York City. It draws on NYC and NYS regulatory frameworks. Federal small disadvantaged business (SDB) designations through the U.S. Small Business Administration — including the 8(a) Business Development Program — fall outside the scope of this page, as do certification programs specific to New Jersey, Connecticut, or other municipalities. Contractors pursuing solely federal contracts should consult the SBA's certification programs directly. Adjacent borough markets and their specific agency procurement rules are also not covered here.

How it works

MWBE contractors in Queens enter the sector through a multi-step certification process, after which they become eligible for set-aside contracts and participation goals attached to public projects.

NYC SBS Certification process (numbered steps):

1. Create an account through the NYC Business Certification portal on the SBS website.
2. Submit documentation establishing ownership (minimum 51 percent), operational control, U.S. citizenship or permanent residence, and business formation.
3. Pass a desk review and, if selected, an in-person site visit or interview conducted by SBS staff.
4. Receive certification valid for 2 years, after which renewal is required.

Once certified, NYC MWBE contractors appear in the NYC Procurement and Sourcing Solutions Portal (PASSPort), the primary tool city agencies use to identify certified subcontractors and prime contractors for public projects.

Participation goals are established project-by-project under Local Law 1 of 2013 (NYC Admin Code §6-129), which mandates that City agencies set MWBE utilization goals on construction, professional services, and standard services contracts. Contractors bidding on covered city construction projects in Queens must document their outreach to certified MWBEs even when goal waivers are requested.

For state-funded projects — such as those administered through the NYC School Construction Authority, MTA capital programs, or NYCHA — NYS ESD certification applies. Both certifications can be held simultaneously, though they involve separate applications and documentation packages.

Common scenarios

Public school construction subcontracting: A licensed masonry contractor with NYS MWBE certification may be listed as a designated subcontractor on a NYC School Construction Authority project in Flushing or Jamaica, Queens, where state participation goals apply.

City capital projects: A women-owned plumbing contractor with NYC SBS certification bids on a Parks Department contract in Astoria. The prime contractor documents the subcontract to satisfy the project's MWBE utilization goal.

Private developer requirements: Certain privately financed developments in Queens that receive City tax incentives or Industrial Development Agency (IDA) benefits through the NYC Economic Development Corporation attach MWBE participation requirements as a condition of financial assistance.

Capacity-building programs: SBS operates the MWBE Loan Fund and connects certified firms to the NYC Accelerator program, offering cost estimate workshops, bonding assistance, and contract management training relevant to home renovation and commercial contractor categories.

Decision boundaries

NYC SBS certification vs. NYS ESD certification:

Contractors holding only NYC SBS certification are not automatically eligible for NYS-governed contract goals; the two certifications address different procurement streams.

A contractor that has grown beyond the applicable size standards — measured by three-year average gross receipts — may be found ineligible for MWBE certification renewal even if ownership percentages remain unchanged. Size standards vary by industry NAICS code and are reviewed at each certification cycle.

Disputes over certification denial or decertification decisions can be appealed through the relevant agency's administrative process. For Queens-based contractors involved in contract disputes more broadly, contractor dispute resolution frameworks provide a parallel avenue.

The broader contractor landscape in Queens — including licensing requirements, insurance standards, and building code compliance — applies to MWBE-certified firms on the same terms as all other licensed contractors. Certification status does not modify trade licensing obligations enforced by the NYC Department of Buildings.

For a full picture of how contracting services are structured across Queens, the Queens Contractor Authority index maps the major service categories, certification types, and regulatory bodies relevant to this borough.

References

• NYC Department of Small Business Services — MWBE Program
• Empire State Development — Division of Minority and Women's Business Development
• New York Executive Law Article 15-A (MWBE definitions and program authority)
• NYC Administrative Code §6-129 — Participation by Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprises in City Procurement
• U.S. Small Business Administration — Federal Contracting Assistance Programs
• NYC PASSPort — Procurement and Sourcing Solutions Portal