The Business Connect program is committed to supporting minority, woman, LGBTQ+ and veteran-owned businesses through professional development, networking and contract opportunities. Certified businesses selected for the program will be profiled in the Business Connect Resource Guide, which NFL vendors and event producers use to identify and select local suppliers to fulfill their Super Bowl LVI sub-contracting needs. Businesses must have proof of certification from one of the following approved certifying agencies:
- SMBE/SWBE from the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans)
- MBE/WBE from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Contract Administration
- MBE/WBE from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
- LGBTBE from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
- MBE from the Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council (SCMSDC)
- DVBE from the State of California, Department of General Services (DGS)
- VOSB/SDVOSB from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- WBE from the Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West, Inc. (WBEC-West)
Be 51% owned by a minority, woman, LGBTQ+ or veteran individual and be certified as one of the following:
- Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE)
- Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (DVOSB)
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Business Enterprise (LGBTBE)
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
- Small Minority Business Enterprise (SMBE)
- Small Woman Business Enterprise (SWBE)
- Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB)
- Woman Business Enterprise (WBE)
Should your business be classified within any of the preceding categories/classifications your company has already participated in discriminatory practice by the government. White male firms are not denied opportunities for the same contracts, yet are not required to certified, where certification in most cases requires an upfront fee.
The original intent of small business assistance is to improve communities and to spread geographical wealth through contracting. Essentially seeing t have zip code parity. If the NFL truly wanted to assist small business enterprises it would spend time in those communities where they identify their upcoming athletes that are overwhelming located in low income communities.
