Essex County MBE, WBE, & VOB Program

The program summary on this page was last updated on 01/28/2021. If any of the information or links are out-of-date, please contact us.

Companies that are certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), or Veteran-Owned Business (VOB) by the State of New Jersey (as provided for on the State of New Jersey Business Portal website, available at http://www.nj.gov/njbusiness/contracting/) are eligible to participate in both a Set-Aside program and a Joint Venture Program in Essex County, as established by the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The Set-Aside program is for businesses seeking contracting opportunities within the real of goods and services, nonprofessional services, and professional services; certain contracts under this purview will be earmarked for certified MBEs, WBEs, and VOBs. The Joint Venture Program applies exclusively to construction contracts, and allows for MBEs, WBEs, and VOBs to obtain bonding more easily under the auspices of a joint venture.

In addition to being certified as a MBE, WBE, or VOB by the State of New Jersey, eligible businesses must also register with Essex County in order to apply for opportunities with the County, at http://essexcountynj.org/procure/. Such registered businesses will also be able to receive automatic news updates, download documentation, and track past awards.