State seeks input on contracting program after elimination of HUB office
The Department of Administration plans to redesign North Carolina’s Small Business Enterprise Program following a state-budget provision that eliminated the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses.
RALEIGH — North Carolina officials are seeking public input on the future of a state program that helps small businesses compete for government contracts following the elimination of the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses.
The General Assembly eliminated the HUB office in July as part of the state budget. The office had operated for 27 years and worked with businesses seeking opportunities in state procurement and construction.
Lawmakers transferred the North Carolina Small Business Enterprise Program from the former HUB office to the Department of Administration’s Division of Purchase and Contract.
The department announced Wednesday that it will use community forums, an online form and meetings with business and government representatives to gather recommendations for a redesigned program. Officials said they intend to launch the revised Small Business Enterprise Program by early 2027.
The process follows a consequential change in the state’s approach to business participation in public contracting. Historically underutilized business programs have focused on businesses owned by minorities, women, people with disabilities and other groups that have faced barriers to government contracts.
The Small Business Enterprise Program has different eligibility criteria. It is open to qualifying for-profit businesses headquartered in North Carolina with no more than 100 employees and annual net income of no more than $1.5 million after the cost of goods sold is deducted.
Administration Secretary Gabe Esparza is scheduled to participate in public forums in Greensboro, Durham, Charlotte and Greenville during September. The first was scheduled for Thursday in Greensboro. Additional meetings are planned for Durham on Sept. 21, Charlotte on Sept. 26 and Greenville on Sept. 29.
The department is also convening informal discussions involving small-business owners, state and local officials, purchasing specialists, academic experts and organizations that assist companies seeking government contracts.
Officials said the Department of Administration is coordinating with the governor’s office, Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina and Department of Transportation.
The department has not announced the final structure of the redesigned program. That means the forums and online comment process represent an early policy-development stage rather than a completed change in procurement rules.
Small-business owners and other interested residents may submit feedback through the Department of Administration’s online portal.
Editor’s note:
This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
