The City of Indianapolis, through its Office of Minority and Women Business Development (OMWBD), has shifted the certification processes for minority-, women-, veteran-, and disabled-owned businesses from in-person to online. The rule came into effect from April 1st, 2026. All future applications must be submitted through the online platform, B2GNow.

The XBE certifications, which include (MBE, WBE, VBE, and DOBE), allow eligible business owners to compete for City-County contracts meant exclusively for small businesses. It also opens opportunities to become part of the government’s diversity program and networking drives.

To certify as XBE in Indianapolis, your business must meet the following criteria:

• It must be a for-profit business
• The business must be headquartered and domiciled in the State of Indiana
• 51% of the business must be owned by minorities, women, veterans, or people with ADA disabilities
• Should be owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents

You can visit the indy.gov website to learn about the required documentation for applying for new certifications or renewing your existing certifications.

For new businesses, you must begin by registering as a vendor with the City-Council through the Office of Finance and Management - Purchasing Division.