As of January 2019, Fuze7 Marketing is excited to announce we have been certified as a Women Business Enterprise by the State of Oregon.

What does it mean to be a Women-Owned Business Enterprise? A Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) is defined as a business that is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled on a daily basis by one or more ( in combination) female American citizens. WBE are typically certified by a third-party, city, state or federal agency.

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) was formed in 1997. It is the largest third-party certifier of business owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States.

There are many reasons for becoming or partnering with Women Business Enterprises are beneficial to your business. By supporting women in the workplace, you, in turn, are increasing the economic stability of families and communities by creating new jobs, growing wealth, and progressively changing the social normalities and mindsets of the past.

To become a WBE, the applicants go through a strict and laborious application process that includes an application, fees, and a site interview before a decision is made by the Certification Review Committee. This process is to confirm the business is in fact owned and operated by a woman or women. The review committee is comprised of Corporate and WBE volunteers. The committee is thoroughly vetted and trained in WBENC’s standards and procedures. The committee members names are not revealed to the public, and they must refrain from participating in the decision making process if they have any personal or professional ties to the applicant whatsoever.

After successful completion of the application process and the business becomes certified, WBE may use their certification credentials to gain access to WBENC Corporate Members, in as well as numerous federal, state, and local government agencies.  WBEs are also given access to over 10,000 other certified WBEs for purchasing products, services, or potential partnership opportunities. The certification also provides the right to use resources provided by the WBENC’s resources in the forms of continued education, networking events, and public awareness campaigns.

The certification lasts for one year from the date of issue. If a WBE wants to keep their certification active, they are required to recertify every year. To avoid a lapse in certification it is recommended to begin the recertification process at least 90 days prior to the expiration date.

Aside from women empowerment, there are many reasons why it is beneficial to support and partner with women business enterprises and how it will help your bottom line. Some of the most important reasons include diversification, tax incentives, relationship building, and increased profitability. The Fuze7 team sincerely appreciates the support we have received over the years from our loyal customers and would love to have the opportunity to partner with your business.

 

****Please Note**** some of the information in this article has been extracted from the WBENC website