Inside NYCs MWBE Process

By Simone Valentine
NYC Small Business Services reports there are over 180,000 small businesses currently in operation in New York City. Yet as of Q4 2025, there are only 11,178 active M/WBE firms currently certified. MWBE, or Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise, refers to business entities that are at least 51% owned and controlled by women and or recognized minority groups.

The city’s MWBE Program gives these entities access to government contracts once they become certified, giving entrepreneurs more visibility and a larger customer pool that includes City agencies and private contractors.

One M/WBE certified business owner, Eve Jean, spoke with OTP about her experience with the certification process and how it has affected the trajectory of her interior design business, Eve Jean Interiors:
S.V: For readers who don’t know you yet, what is Eve Jean Interiors, and what do you specialize in?
E.J: “Eve Jean Interiors is a wellness-centered interior design and construction studio based in New York, working across residential, commercial, hospitality, and educational spaces.
We design environments that support how people feel, function, and live.

Whether it’s a luxury penthouse, a school wellness room, or an international development project, our work blends elevated aesthetics with intentional functionality. Every space is approached through a wellness lens, how it flows, how it supports clarity, and how it enhances daily life.
We manage projects from concept through execution in-house, allowing our clients to experience a seamless, thoughtful process from start to finish.”

S.V: When did you first hear about MWBE certification, and why pursue it?
E.J.: “I became aware of MWBE certification a couple of years later in my business journey, but its importance became clear as my projects grew in scale and community impact. As a minority woman-owned firm, pursuing certification felt like both alignment and strategy.”

S.V: Walk us through your application experience. How long did it take from start to approval? What parts were the most time-consuming or confusing?
E.J: “{The process} took several months from initial application to approval. The waiting period requires patience, but the result is a meaningful milestone for the business. It involved compiling extensive documentation, submitting it through the portal, responding to follow-ups, and navigating periods of waiting.

There were moments of back-and-forth clarification and additional requests. It required consistency, follow-through, and a willingness to stay organized.
In many ways, it mirrors running a business- it’s self-structured, detailed, and persistence-driven. Keeping track of required documents and responding quickly to portal updates took the most time.

The system could use a little more help regarding uploading the documents. Even small delays can extend timelines. Having clean files and a clear system in place makes a big difference.”
And for those who have completed certification, the challenge of actually procuring contracts can be difficult, depending on the business.

Certification is not a golden ticket, but a hard-earned tool that must be used in addition to a business owner’s existing marketing, branding, or administrative efforts. Eve Jean spoke to her experience since being certified, specifically when trying support community enrichment as an interior designer.

S.V.: Once you were officially M/WBE certified, what changed for your business?
E.J:Certification increased visibility and strengthened positioning when pursuing institutional and development-level projects. It opened conversations with partners, developers, and organizations looking to work intentionally with MWBE firms.

It also created alignment with the type of community-focused work we care deeply about- schools, wellness environments, and global projects. But to be quite frank, nothing really changed. Most big corporations I had the pleasure of meeting never followed through. I just wish it were easier for interior designers to acquire more work for government business, as well as for schools.

Most of the contracts awarded to M/WBEs are in Construction Services. According to the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services’ FY26 Q1 M/WBE Compliance Report, of the $310 million in prime contracts awarded in 2025, $141 million was awarded to construction service businesses, compared to the $79 million awarded to professional services, $24 million awarded to goods, and $64 million awarded to standardized services.

The SBS does provide many programs to help MWBE businesses learn best practices for procurement. M/WBE owners are also encouraged to support one another by sharing insights, guidance, and lessons learned.

S.V. Many assume certification automatically brings contracts. What’s the gap?
E.J. “Certification opens doors; relationships secure contracts. You still need strong branding, a clear portfolio, and consistent networking. It’s a tool, an important one, but it works best when paired with readiness and strategy.”

S.V. One change you’d make to the MWBE system?
E.J. : “More transparency around timelines and clearer communication throughout the process would help small businesses plan more effectively and reduce uncertainty, as well as having better opportunities for vendors such as myself in the design and construction firm.

S. V. What are you building next—and where can readers follow your work?
E.J. “We’re currently expanding into larger residential and hospitality projects, including an international beach club development in Ghana and continued wellness-focused spaces for schools and communities in New York.

Our goal is to design environments that support well-being at every scale, locally and globally.
Readers can follow our work on Instagram @Evejeaninteriors
and through our website at www.stylemyspacedesign.com as we continue to grow and collaborate.”