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What We Do

ACCESS Center for Equity & Success is committed to building the most successful minority-and woman-owned business enterprise (MWBE) community in North Carolina and the southeast. ACCESS Center for Equity + Success provides minority-owned and woman-owned firms access to capital, contract matching, certification training, entrepreneurial resources and more. ACCESS helps minority-owned and woman-owned contractors, suppliers, and service providers thrive equitably and stimulate the local economy by:

  • Connecting purchasing offices, diversity and inclusion departments, prime contractors and corporations to transact more local business with MWBE companies.

  • Providing technical assistance for securing state and national certifications such as HUB, DBE, and SBA.

 

We believe our approach in assisting minority-owned and woman-owned firms create immediate and measurable impact, and fill large gaps in the economic landscape.

RELATED NEWS

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New MWBE Accelerator Announces Grand Opening in the Innovation Quarter

Providing ACCESS: Winston Salem's Center for Minority-and Women-owned businesses

Who We Help

ACCESS Center for Equity & Success helps minority-owned and woman-owned contractors, suppliers, and service providers who have existing scalable businesses. 

Who qualifies as a minority-owned or woman-owned business enterprise (MWBE)?

At least fifty-one percent (51%) of the business is owned by one or more persons who are members of at least one of the groups set forth below, or in the case of a corporation, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the stock is owned by one or more persons who are members of at least one of the groups set forth below:

  • Black - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

  • Hispanic - A person of Spanish or Portuguese culture having origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean islands, regardless of race.

  • Asian American - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, Asia, Indian continent, or Pacific islands.

  • American Indian - A person having origins in any of the original Indian peoples of North America.

  • Female

What does it mean to be a contractor?

A person or a company that seeks to do business by obtaining contracts and carrying them out. Contractors agree to supply services, goods, materials, equipment, or personnel that meet stated requirements.

What is a scalable business model?

A scalable company is one that can maintain or improve profits while sales volumes increase.  Scaling means that the company is adding customers and employees. The ability of a minority-owned or woman-owned company to withstand pressure as a result of growth without being hindered by its resources or structure is vital.

Schedule an appointment for assistance.

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ACCESS has been made possible by Wexford Science + Technology, the developer of Bailey Power Plant, and the Innovation Quarter.  Together these organizations provided catalytic funding, space, and support.

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