Certification
Astra Women’s Business Alliance partnered with Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) in 2000 to offer a national certification program for women business owners.
The Astra-WBENC certification for women-owned businesses is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the nation. Accepted by more than 500 major corporations across the country and a number of federal and government agencies, your WBENC certification will be an important marketing tool for expanding your company’s visibility among decision makers in corporate supplier diversity and procurement.
Special programs and initiatives developed by Astra and WBENC also provide certified WBE’s with added information, training and resources for growing their business opportunities in both the public and private sectors. WBENC has exclusive initiatives like WBENCLink, WEBuy and a scholarship program designed especially for certified women’s business enterprises (WBE)
Criteria for Certification
Fifty-one percent ownership by a woman or women.
1. Proof of effective management of the business (operating position, bylaws, hire-fire and other decision-making role)
2. Control of the business as evidenced by signature role on loans, leases and contracts.
3. US Citizenship or US Resident Alien Status
Certification Process
The first step to getting certified is completing the online application. In order to do this, you will need to go to the www.wbenc.org website to fill out an application. Once the application has been submitted, you will receive an email notification from the website and Astra Women’s Business Alliance, your partner organization, with a list of documents needed to complete the process, along with a non-refundable processing and membership fee. Once you have gathered the
Required Attachments, notarized sworn affidavit and the processing fee send those documents to Astra at the following address:
Astra Certification
PMB 304 17112 SE Powell Blvd Ste 2
Portland, OR 97236
The membership and certification process fee is based on annual gross revenues and the fee schedule is found under the Membership section of this website.
The certification is good for one year and must be re-applied for each year.
The process takes 60-90 days from the time that Astra receives your completed application and required attachments. Once your file is complete, you file will be reviewed by a volunteer certification committee. This will be followed by a site visit to your business. The certification committee will meet for a second and final time to determine if your business meets Astra-WBENC’s certification standards.
Following is information regarding the certification process:
· Standards and Procedures
· Required Attachments
· Instructions and Application
· Sworn Affidavit
Benefits of Astra Women’s Business Alliance Membership & Certification for WBEs
Astra provides regional and national business development, networking and educational workshops. It is up to each member to take advantage of the following activities. Those who have participated are reaping the benefits of more revenues today.
Maximize Your Marketing Efforts
* Gain password access to a list of procurement executives at more than 150 member corporations and other Astra WBEs in our 6- state region.
* Market your company using the WBENC seal to more than 500 corporations and agencies that accept WBENC certification
* Establish strategic partnerships with WBE members for larger contracts.
* Promote your company’s products or services nationally through a free list service
* Receive email notifications of Request for Proposals (RFP)
* Meet one-on-one with corporate and agency buyers at Astra’s quarterly events and WBENC national tradeshows and Matchmakers
Networking and Educational Opportunities
* Learn how to do business with corporations and agencies. Develop techniques to grow a globally-competitive company
* Apply for scholarships to premier executive leadership programs offered at major universities. ie. Dartmouth, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Stanford.
* Join industry-specific forums and participate in networking events where you meet potential buyers of your products or services.
* Market your company online with specific information about your company’s ability to provide products or services to corporate buyers.
You will have an opportunity to participate in local and regional educational and networking events in the Astra Region of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and Northern California. Explore forming strategic alliances to seek larger contracts from corporate and agency RFPs.
Make this your year to grow your company! Astra is here to help you!
The WBENC national database of certified women’s business enterprises is available to our corporate members and certified women business enterprises. Certified WBE’s can access the national database by visiting www.wbenclink.org.
Astra maintains a stringent screening process which ensures that all firms in our membership are legitimately owned, operated and controlled by women.
