LONG BEACH - As part of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's promise to give California's small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises (DVBEs) better access to the $9 billion annually in state contracts, Rosario Marin, Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency today introduced online certification for state contracting. This online process will dramatically reduce the time needed to certify small businesses and DVBEs for access to the bidding process. Previously, the process could take as long as six months. Now, it just takes one day for small businesses (SBs).

DVBEs can take longer because of the need to validate veteran status, but the new online process speeds up the application process and reduces the amount of paperwork for them too.

Certified businesses can receive contract bid preferences and email notifications of contracting opportunities. These can help businesses compete for state contracts and grow their local economies.

"When Governor Schwarzenegger took office," said Marin, "he promised to make government truly responsive to the real needs of the people. Today's announcement delivers on that promise." The California Department of General Services, which will operate the new online service, is one of the departments supervised by Secretary Marin. The online certification system is now easily accessible 24 hours a day via the DGS website.

For SBs and DVBEs, certification is the first key step in gaining access to the bidding process for state contracts. Automated, online certification removes a major obstacle that had been delaying some small businesses from getting certified under the older, paper-intensive system. "Online SB certification now only takes minutes to complete if the applicant has all the required financial information handy," said Secretary Marin. "Businesses can get certified today and conduct business tomorrow - and start funneling dollars into their local economy. That stimulates the economy for all Californians."

Through a secure log-on, the "no-fee" online service allows businesses to apply for the following certifications with the State:

• Small Business (SB)
• Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE)
• Combined SB and DVBE
• Nonprofit registration
• Nonprofit Veteran Service Agency (NVSA)

Once certified, businesses can go online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to update their business profile, renew their certifications and search for potential competitive bidding opportunities to grow their businesses.

"Our organization has been working with the state for quite some time to fine-tune the small business and DVBE certification process" said Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association and co-chair of the DGS Small Business Advisory Council. "This new online service is exactly the type of program development we've been looking for. Many small businesses and DVBEs work 24/7, so it's great to see that some of the critical programs offered by the state are likewise becoming available to us around the clock."

An estimated 98 percent of all businesses in California are small businesses. They employ more than half of all California workers, and they contribute over 60 percent of the state's gross domestic product.

Last year Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-02-06 directing all departments of state government to achieve a goal of at least 25 percent small business participation in all state contracts and procurements. As a result, California is now committed to getting more SBs and DVBEs connected to the $9 billion in state contracts.

Businesses seeking to become California certified may access the on-line application at: http://www.getcertified.dgs.ca.gov/