LGBTBE® Certification - Resource Hub
Certification is National. Membership is Local.
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with the National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) on the LGBT Business Enterprise® (LGBTBE®) Certification program.
Through our Affiliate relationship with NGLCC:
- Certification is national
- Membership is local
- And as a Chamber member, your $899 certification fee and $499 recertification fee are waived.
That means you receive national recognition and supplier access — while also engaging in Greater Houston’s regional LGBTQ+ business ecosystem.
As we celebrate a Decade of Impact, the Chamber continues to strengthen supplier inclusion and expand economic opportunity for LGBTQ+ and allied businesses across Greater Houston and beyond.
Why Get LGBTBE® Certified?
NGLCC is the nation’s exclusive third-party certifying body verifying that eligible businesses are at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and controlled by LGBTQ+ individuals.
Certification gives your business a measurable competitive advantage in today’s supplier inclusion landscape.
The NGLCC Network Is Ready To Do Business
As a Certified LGBTBE®, you gain access to:
- 450+ corporate and government partners actively seeking certified suppliers
- 2,800+ certified LGBTQ+ businesses across industries ready for B2B opportunities
- Direct procurement contacts within NGLCC’s network
- Matchmaking events nationwide
Certification Drives Longevity
Certified suppliers thrive longer — more than twice as long as the average U.S. small business — thanks to expanded access, relationships, and opportunities.
Certification opens doors at every stage of growth — from solo entrepreneur to global enterprise.
The LGBTQ+ & Allied Consumer Is Looking for You
The LGBTQ+ community spends more than $917 billion annually and is significantly more likely to support inclusive brands.
Your certification signals trust, inclusion, and credibility — locally and nationally.
Why Join the Chamber First?
Certification Is National. Membership Is Local. Growth Is Both.
While you can apply directly for LGBTBE® Certification through NGLCC, joining the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce first provides powerful advantages — both financially and strategically.
As we celebrate the Chamber’s 10-Year Anniversary milestone, we are deeply committed to investment in supplier inclusion, procurement access, and certification support for our members.
❶ Your Certification & Recertification Fees Are Waived
Standard NGLCC Fees:
- $899 Application
- $499 Recertification
As a Chamber member, both the certification and recertification fee are waived through our official Affiliate relationship with NGLCC.
That alone often offsets your membership investment.
❷ Local Support Through the Certification Process
Certification requires documentation, LGBTQ+ status qualifiers, and a site visit.
As your local Affiliate Chamber, we:
- Provide guidance before you submit
- Issue LGBTQ+ status verification letters (when eligible)
- Introduce you to regional certification and procurement experts
- Connect you with the NGLCC Supplier Inclusion team
- Position you to maximize certification once approved
You are not navigating the process alone.
❸ Certification is Stronger When Activated Locally
National certification opens doors.
Chamber membership helps you walk through them.
As a member, you gain access to:
- Chamber Impact Partners
- THRIVE Business Summit & Matchmaker
- LGBTBE® Roundtable Programs
- Regional procurement connections
- Business visibility in Houston and the region
- High-value networking and relationship-building opportunities
- Advocacy within the local economic ecosystem
- And much more…
Certification gives you credentials.
Membership gives you connection, activation, and regional opportunity.
❹ Be Part of the Region's LGBTQ+ Economic Ecosystem
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce exists to build an economy where everyone belongs.
When you join first, you:
- Strengthen local supplier inclusion efforts
- Engage with corporate and civic partners
- Support regional advocacy
- Contribute to long-term economic impact
Your membership isn’t just transactional — it’s transformational.
The Smart Strategy
✔ Join the Chamber
✔ Get your certification fees waived
✔ Apply for national LGBTBE® Certification through the NGLCC
✔ Activate your certification locally and nationally
That’s how you maximize opportunity.
Ready to Start?
👉 Join the Chamber
👉 Begin Your Certification Application
Certification is national.
Membership is local.
Success is both.
Benefits of Certification
- National recognition as a Certified LGBTQ+ Business Enterprise®
- Inclusion in NGLCC’s proprietary searchable database
- Eligibility for sourcing opportunities from NGLCC corporate and government partners
- Participation in mentorship programs, leadership trainings, and educational sessions
- Access to the NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference and matchmaking
- Use of the NGLCC Certified Business logo
- Access to Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) and Transgender & Gender Expansive (TGX) Initiative programs
- Contracting alerts and supplier inclusion updates
Regional Benefits
As your local Affiliate Chamber, we work year-round to help you maximize your certification:
- Access to Chamber Impact Partners
- Participation in the THRIVE Business Summit & Matchmaker
- LGBTBE® Roundtable Programs
- Visibility through Chamber communications
- Education and workshops on maximizing certification
- Local networking and procurement opportunities
Membership is regional. Certification is national.
Together, they create scale, visibility, and opportunity.
Supplier Inclusion in the Region
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber works closely with major regional employers and Impact Partners who recognize LGBTBE® Certification within their supplier inclusion initiatives.
Many of our Impact Partners (corporate partners) actively seek certified suppliers to strengthen inclusive procurement practices.
We are proud to help connect certified businesses to opportunities in our region. This work builds on a decade of leadership advancing LGBTQ+ economic inclusion in Houston.
City of Houston Recognition
In 2020, the Chamber worked with former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) to formally recognize LGBTQ+-owned businesses in city contracting and procurement.
Houston became the first city in Texas to formally recognize LGBTQ+-owned businesses through Executive Order 1-70.
Today, certified LGBTBE® businesses can leverage both:
- National certification
- Local recognition within City of Houston contracting processes
We continue to partner with the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity to connect LGBTQ+ and allied businesses to resources and opportunities.
Ready to Grow?
✔ Join the Chamber
✔ Get Certified
✔ Access National & Regional Opportunity
Does My Business Qualify?
To be eligible for LGBTBE® Certification, your business must:
- Be at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an LGBTQ+ individual(s)
- Be independent from any non-LGBTQ+ business enterprise
- Have the principal place of business in the U.S.
- Be formed as a legal for-profit entity in the U.S.
👉 See detailed documentation requirements
Certification Fees - Chamber Member Benefit
Through our Affiliate relationship with NGLCC:
- Certification Application Fee: $899 → WAIVED for Chamber Members
- Recertification Fee: $499 → WAIVED for Chamber Members
You receive:
- All regional Chamber benefits
- All national certification benefits
- No certification or recertification fees
It’s a powerful investment in your growth.
🎥 Start Here: Guide to Becoming a Certified Supplier
Before beginning your application, watch NGLCC’s official tutorial:
Guide to Becoming a Certified Supplier
This step-by-step video explains:
- Eligibility requirements
- Required documentation
- LGBTQ+ status qualifiers
- What to expect during your site visit
- How certification connects to supplier inclusion opportunities
Why Should I Get Certified?
Learn how certification:
- Connects you to 450+ corporate and government partners
- Expands B2B opportunities
- Increases business longevity
- Strengthens your competitive advantage
👉 Download the “Why Get Certified?” Guide (PDF)
📋 Supporting Documents Checklist
Before you apply, review the full Supporting Documents Checklist to understand:
- Required legal documents by business structure
- Tax documentation requirements
- LGBTQ+ status qualifier documentation
- Additional documents that may be requested
Being prepared in advance helps streamline the review process.
👉 Download the Supporting Documents Checklist (PDF)
📌 Quick FAQ
What does certification cost?
$899 application / $499 recertification — waived for Chamber members.
How long does it take?
Timeline varies based on documentation readiness and site visit scheduling.
Who reviews my application?
The NGLCC National Certification Committee.
Ready to Start Your Application? Here's How...
The certification process includes:
- Start your profile at nglcc.gob2g.com
- Submit supporting documentation
- Complete a site visit with an NGLCC-trained site visitor
- National Certification Committee review
Questions about certification? Contact the NGLCC Supplier Inclusion Team at supplierinclusion@nglcc.org
Get Certified Today
Ready to grow your business locally and nationally?
- Become a Chamber member
- Apply for LGBTBE® Certification
- Unlock national supplier access
- Engage in Houston’s LGBTQ+ economic ecosystem
Certification is national. Membership is local. Your growth starts here.