Tag Archives: HUBZone 35% requirement

HUBZone Certifications Averaging 116 Days–And Other Tidbits From The SBA OIG HUBZone Report

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HUBZone certifications are averaging 116 days from the date of application to the date of certification, according to a fascinating SBA Office of Inspector General Report on the HUBZone certification process.  The 116-day time frame is considerably longer than the SBA’s goal of 90 days.  However, in a majority of cases, the SBA does complete the certification process within 90 days of receiving all of the applicant’s supporting documentation.

In addition to an overview of the time frames associated with a HUBZone certification (a question I am often asked), the SBA OIG report concludes that the SBA’s HUBZone application procedures need updating–and that three potentially ineligible firms were certified in 2012.

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Thank You, HUBZones!

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Last week, I had the honor of returning to Washington, DC and giving a presentation at the National HUBZone Conference on best practices for remaining HUBZone compliant.  The presentation addressed critical ongoing HUBZone compliance issues, including the principal office rule, 35% employee residency rule, and other HUBZone eligibility rules.

Many thanks to Mark Crowley and the HUBZone Council for inviting me to be part of the conference.  And a big “thank you” to my engaged audience of HUBZone companies, which asked many great questions and probably could have kept going all morning if there had been time.  Finally, thanks to my sister Karen, for allowing me to use her apartment in Van Ness as my personal HUBZone Conference hotel and introducing me to Comet Ping Pong while I was in town.

If your company is HUBZone certified, but you weren’t able to make it to this year’s National HUBZone Conference, never fear.  My presentation slides are now up on the Past Presentations page.  Enjoy!

Explaining HUBZone Eligibility And The 35% Residency Requirement

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In order to qualify as a HUBZone business, 35% of a company’s employees must reside in a HUBZone (though not necessarily the same HUBZone where the business has its principal office).  But what happens if a business slips below the 35% requirement?  After all, employees come and go all the time.

Here’s how it works.

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