LGBTBE® Certification
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) on the LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE®) Certification program. Become a member of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber and your application fee ($899!) is waived. Membership is regional and certification is national!
The NGLCC is the nation's only third-party certification body that verifies that eligible businesses are majority-owned by LGBTQ+ individuals, and subsequently grants LGBT Business Enterprise® (LGBTBE®) designation to such businesses as part of its LGBTQ+ Supplier Diversity Initiative.
As an LGBTBE® Certified business, you'll have access to the full NGLCC network, which features more than 450+ corporate and public sector partners expressly looking to do business with certified LGBTBEs®. Plus, the NGLCC's 2000+ LGBTBE®s cut across all industries and are seeking B2B opportunities and strategic partnerships with other LGBTBEs® like you!
And, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce works with our LGBTBE® Certified businesses throughout the year to connect your business to local/regional companies, who are our Impact Partners, as well as various opportunities, events and programming.
Why Should I Get Certified as an LGBTQ+ Owned Business?
Identifying your LGBTQ+ owned business through national diversity supplier certification provides another channel through which to market your products or services. Major U.S. corporations and the public sector are increasingly demonstrating a commitment to a diverse supply chain by not only creating inclusive work environments and marketing to a broad, diverse consumer base but also by purchasing products and services directly from LGBTBE® certified businesses. By becoming a certified LGBTBE®, business owners are able to build relationships with America’s leading corporations as well as governmental entities and generate prospective business and clients, and collectively team with each other for contracting opportunities. Certified LGBTBEs® are routinely sought after by NGLCC Corporate Partners and many Chamber Impact Partners who are looking to increase their purchasing within diverse communities.
What are the benefits for my business?
- National recognition by America’s top corporations as a Certified LGBTQ+ Business Enterprise® supplier
- Eligibility to exhibit at the annual NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference, as well as at regional events
- Automatic inclusion in the NGLCC’s online searchable database of certified businesses, which is accessible by NGLCC Corporate Partners.
- Use of the NGLCC Certified Business logo on your marketing materials, which identifies your business as LGBTQ+-owned through the NGLCC to an international audience
- Eligibility to receive sourcing opportunities from the NGLCC and its Corporate Partners
- Eligibility to participate in mentorship programs, leadership trainings, and scholarship opportunities presented by NGLCC Corporate Partners
- Eligibility for involvement with the Transgender & Gender Expansive (TGX) Initiative for TGX-owned businesses, and the Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) for business owners of color
- Discounts offered by NGLCC Corporate Partners
REGIONAL
- Opportunity to participate in regional events and programming for LGBTBE® Certified businesses such as the THRIVE Small Business Summit & Matchmaker
- Access to regional Chamber Impact Partners
- Eligibility to receive sourcing opportunities from the Chamber Impact Partners
- Recognition as a newly LGBTBE® Certified business through Chamber communications
Does My Business Qualify for Certification?
Businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least fifty-one (51%) owned, operated, managed, and controlled by an LGBTQ+ person or persons who are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents
- Exercise independence from any non-LGBTQ+ business enterprise
- Have principle place of business (or headquarters) located in the United States
- Have been formed as a legal entity in the United States
Learn more about LGBTBE® certification and visit the NGLCC’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Get Your Certification Fee Waived
As a member of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber, your $899 application fee is waived. The Chamber is an Affiliate Chamber of the NGLCC and, as part of this partnership, the certification fee is waived for our members. You get all of the benefits of regional membership plus the waiver of the certification fee. What a win-win to support your biz!
THRIVE Small Business Summit, LGBTBE® Roundtable Program & More
The Chamber supports our LGBTBE® Certified members through various programming and events, such as the LGBTBE® Roundtable Program and annual THRIVE Small Business Summit & Matchmaker, which offers opportunities to help certified LGBTQ+ Certified businesses grow and thrive. The main goal of the programs and events is to foster the development, growth and sustainability of certified businesses who are members of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. As a certified business and Chamber member, certified LGBTBE® businesses are automatically eligible to participate in these programs and events.
We are proud of our Chamber Impact Partners who are strong supporters of the LGBTBE® Certification, and demonstrate this through inclusive procurement practices, such as United, Bank of America and Shell USA. We partner with these companies to offer programming through the LGBTBE® Roundtable Program and other events to connect our members to education, resources and business opportunities.
Hear from supplier diversity experts about maximizing the LGBTBE® Certification to grow your business.
View past LGBTBE® workshops including the LGBTBE® Roundtable Program, How to Get LGBTBE® Certified, and more.
Learn more about our partners that recognize the LGBTBE® Certification as part of their supplier diversity initiatives.
MAKING HISTORY! LGBTBE® Inclusion Executive Order Signing Ceremony
The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber worked with former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity to recognize LGBTQ+-owned businesses in city contracting and procurement. This Executive Order made Houston the first city in Texas to recognize LGBTQ+-owned businesses! As an LGBTBE® Certified business, business owners have access to valuable resources and tools at the City of Houston.
City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity
The Chamber is proud to partner with the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) to connect the LGBTQ+ and Allied business community to contracting opportunities and other resources to support small businesses. OBO is a longtime partner of the Chamber and champion for the LGBTQ+ business community.