New Empire State MWBE Hub Aims to Open More Contracting Doors
New York’s mobile-friendly system is designed to simplify certification, improve transparency and connect qualified firms with state contracts.
New York has launched the Empire State MWBE Hub, a new online system intended to make it easier for minority- and women-owned businesses to become certified and compete for government contracts.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the platform Thursday, July 23, describing it as a major upgrade to a state certification system that was developed more than a decade ago. The mobile-friendly Hub will allow business owners to submit documents, communicate with state reviewers, manage appeals and search for contracting opportunities from one central location. (Governor Kathy Hochul)
For entrepreneurs who have struggled with complex applications, scattered communications or uncertainty about their certification status, the change could be significant. However, the Hub’s long-term value will depend on whether it produces faster decisions, clearer guidance and more contracts for businesses outside New York’s largest commercial centers.
What Is the Empire State MWBE Hub?
The Empire State MWBE Hub is a cloud-based platform operated by Empire State Development’s Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development.
Its purpose is to manage several major parts of New York’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise program, commonly known as the MWBE program.
Through the system, applicants will be able to:
- Apply for initial MWBE certification.
- Submit recertification applications.
- Upload supporting documents electronically.
- Receive messages from certification employees.
- Review assigned tasks and application updates.
- Submit and track certification appeals.
- Search a directory of certified MWBE firms.
- Find outreach events and business-development opportunities.
- Request customer service and technical assistance.
The platform will replace the application-management and business-directory portions of New York’s older system. State officials said compliance functions will remain in the existing platform for now, with the certified-business directory connecting the two systems. (Governor Kathy Hochul)
Hochul Says the Hub Will Reduce Barriers
Hochul said the project is part of her administration’s effort to expand economic opportunity for businesses that have historically faced barriers in government procurement.
“The Empire State MWBE Hub builds on that commitment by giving businesses a modern, more accessible path to certification,” Hochul said.
She added that the state wants more MWBEs to “compete, grow, create jobs and contribute to communities across our state.” (Governor Kathy Hochul)
That promise matters because state certification can help a qualified business become more visible to government agencies, public authorities and larger companies seeking subcontractors.
Certification does not guarantee a contract. Businesses must still compete, meet the requirements of individual projects and demonstrate that they can perform the work. But certification can place a company in a searchable state directory and help procurement officials identify eligible firms.
Why Certification Can Be Difficult
Applying for MWBE certification may require owners to provide detailed information about a company’s structure, finances, management and daily operations.
The state must determine whether a business meets ownership and control requirements. That review is necessary to protect the integrity of the program, but it can also become burdensome when application instructions are unclear or communication is delayed.
The new Hub will use guided application forms based on factors such as business structure and certification type. State officials say this approach should help owners better understand which records they must provide.
Applicants will also be able to see tasks, messages and other updates through a centralized portal instead of relying on separate communications.
Jason M. Clark, executive director of the state’s Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development, said the new system is intended to give business owners back “one of their most valuable resources: time.” (Governor Kathy Hochul)
Searchable Directory Could Increase Business Visibility
One of the Hub’s most important features may be its updated directory of certified MWBE companies.
Government agencies, prime contractors and members of the public will be able to search for businesses using details such as:
- Company name
- Geographic location
- Industry
- Services provided
- Certification category
A well-designed directory can help prime contractors find qualified subcontractors and help state agencies document their efforts to include certified businesses in public projects.
This could be especially important for small businesses in Utica, Rome, the Mohawk Valley and other communities where owners may have fewer direct connections to procurement offices in Albany or New York City.
A mobile-friendly directory may widen access, but technology alone will not solve every problem. Small firms may still need help understanding bid documents, securing financing, obtaining insurance and meeting bonding requirements.
New York Reports Record MWBE Spending
New York reported that certified minority- and women-owned businesses received more than $3.3 billion in state payments during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The state calculated an estimated MWBE utilization rate of 31.86%, exceeding its 30% participation goal for the fifth consecutive year. Empire State Development described the $3.3 billion total as the largest annual MWBE spending level in the program’s history. (Empire State Development)
The utilization rate generally measures the share of eligible state contracting dollars directed to certified MWBE firms. It does not mean that nearly one-third of every state purchase went to an MWBE, because goals and eligibility can vary by contract and agency.
New York also increased its discretionary purchasing threshold for MWBE firms to $1.5 million in 2025. The higher threshold can allow agencies to make certain purchases from certified businesses without using the full competitive bidding process normally required for larger contracts. (Empire State Development)
State officials say that change is designed to streamline procurement and create more opportunities. The state must still maintain safeguards that protect public money, encourage fair pricing and prevent favoritism.
State Says Certification Backlog Has Been Eliminated
The Hochul administration says New York eliminated its longstanding MWBE certification backlog following an $11 million investment included in the 2023 state budget.
Applications can now be reviewed in as little as 90 days, according to state announcements. New York has also offered certification-support programs through business advisory centers and Small Business Development Centers. (Governor Kathy Hochul)
The phrase “as little as 90 days” does not mean every application will be completed within that period. Processing time can depend on whether an application is complete, whether additional records are needed and whether questions arise about ownership or control.
The new Hub may help preserve the progress made on the backlog by giving state employees better workflow, communication and data-analysis tools.
Officials Call the Upgrade an Equity Issue
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who chairs the Assembly’s MWBE Oversight Subcommittee, said replacing the decade-old system was about more than convenience.
“Upgrading our technology is a matter of economic justice and transparency,” she said. (Governor Kathy Hochul)
New York Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez said an inclusive procurement system must be accessible, transparent and responsive.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said the Hub will bring applications, appeals, outreach, customer service and the business directory into one flexible platform.
Those goals are promising, but business owners will judge the system by practical results: fewer repeated document requests, faster answers, reliable technical support and greater access to contracts.
A Shared Certification Effort
New York is also working with other MWBE-certifying governments, including New York City, Monroe County and the joint certification committee serving Erie County and Buffalo.
The goal is to reduce the need for business owners to submit similar applications to multiple public entities.
A more unified process could be especially helpful for contractors working across municipal and state boundaries. However, the announcement does not mean that every local MWBE program has been merged into one statewide certification.
Business owners should continue checking the requirements of each agency or municipality offering a contract.
What Business Owners Should Do Next
Business owners interested in certification should begin by reviewing the state’s eligibility requirements and gathering documentation about ownership, management and company operations.
They should also:
- Create a secure account through the Empire State MWBE Hub.
- Complete the business profile carefully.
- Upload all requested documents.
- Monitor the portal for messages and assigned tasks.
- Respond promptly when reviewers request additional information.
- Keep company contact and service information current.
- Use the certified-business directory to review potential partners and competitors.
- Seek assistance from a Small Business Development Center or other approved business-support organization when needed.
Owners should never assume that certification by itself will produce immediate revenue. A company must still market its services, watch for bid notices and build relationships with purchasing officials and prime contractors.
A Modern System Must Deliver Modern Results
The launch of the Empire State MWBE Hub is an important step toward replacing an outdated process with one designed around the needs of today’s entrepreneurs.
It could save time, improve transparency and help qualified businesses become more visible. It may also make it easier for public agencies to identify contractors that reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
But success should be measured in more than website visits and submitted applications.
New York should publicly track processing times, approval and denial rates, technical problems, regional participation and the number of certified firms that actually secure contracts. The state should also make sure that entrepreneurs without reliable broadband or advanced computer skills can still receive meaningful assistance.
For minority- and women-owned businesses across the Mohawk Valley, the message is clear: a new door has opened. Business owners should explore the system, prepare their documents and determine whether state certification can become part of their growth strategy.
At the same time, state leaders must make certain that the new technology lives up to its promise of fairer, faster and more accessible opportunity.
Sources
- Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul, July 23, 2026
- Empire State Development, July 23, 2026
- Empire State Development MWBE utilization announcement, Nov. 18, 2025
- New York State MWBE certification initiative announcements
