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.

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.

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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.