Programs
- AARP Foundation Work for Yourself@50+
- Commercial Space
- Foreign Trade Zone #227
- Minority Supplier Program
- New Markets Tax Credit
- Oklahoma City Minority Supplier Program Resources
- Programs & Services
- REI Business Lending
- REI Down Payment Assistance
- REI Minority Business Center
Minority Supplier Program
REI Oklahoma is excited to be part of the Minority Supplier Program which supports minority-owned businesses in Oklahoma City. (Para información en Español, haga clic aquí.)
The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City created the Minority Supplier Program to help minority entrepreneurs and businesses know about and compete for corporate and government contracts. The long-term goal of the Minority Supplier Program is to have a wide network of minority-owned businesses in Oklahoma City that are able to meet the requirements of larger contracts. The Alliance is working with three partners on this program which include the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City, the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and REI Oklahoma (that’s us), to help minority suppliers with the following services:
- Facilitating business certifications that would help businesses qualify for new contracts;
- Providing mentorship to help business owners identify and respond to contracting opportunities;
- Providing accounting assistance and access to bonding/loan products;
- Helping minority-owned businesses secure larger contracts that have collateral requirements;
- Increasing awareness among corporate and government procurement specialists about the network of local, minority suppliers.
REI Oklahoma encourages you to apply for this program if you have an interest and desire to compete for corporate and government contracts, and are a for-profit business that meets the following requirements:
- Based in City of Oklahoma City limits;
- Registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State in the State of Oklahoma prior to March 3, 2021;
- Have 500 or fewer full-time employees;
- 51% of the controlling interest must identify as Black, Hispanic, American Indian, or Asian;
- Provide goods or services in an industry that regularly offers opportunities for competitive procurement and contracting.
- Other restrictions may apply.*
Interested businesses can apply for services with any of the three partners—Urban League, Hispanic Chamber and REI Oklahoma. All partners provide a common set of services and make referrals among themselves to cover services uniquely provided by that organization. You can also download a program informational flyer.
Stay up to date on upcoming Minority Supplier Program events and workshops.
If your business qualifies for the program, you will have access to:
- Accounting services to preparation financial statements to respond to RFPs/RFQs, get on OKC Public Works pre-qualification list, and obtain bonding/loan products.
- Referrals and application assistance with business loans.
- Assistance preparing documents and responses for competitive procurement opportunities.
- Various certifications include: Small Disadvantaged Business Certification; Woman Owned Business; Diverse Business Certification; Disadvantaged Business Enterprise; National Minority Supplier Development Council and/or Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council.
- Registration for vendor/contractor services with entities such as the City of Oklahoma, Oklahoma County, the State of Oklahoma or even registering with corporate entities. (Corporate entities must be approved by the OKC Alliance in advance).
- There will also be small business workshops and networking opportunities. Workshops include overview of the procurement economy; credit repair; responding to RFP/RFQs; bonding; financial preparation; and executing a contract.
If you meet the above requirements, you can fill out the Minority Supplier Program application. When you do be sure to select REI Oklahoma.
If you do not meet the requirements listed above, please contact the team at REI Oklahoma at info@reiok.org and let us know about your business and what you are needing assistance with and we will reach out to you to connect you to one of our knowledgeable team members to see what other programs and services we offer through REI Oklahoma could help you with launching or growing your Oklahoma business. REI Oklahoma serves all 77 counties.
The Minority Supplier Program is a partnership between the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, REI Oklahoma and the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City.