HUBZone Program

Who qualifies

Small businesses that maintain a principal office in a designated HUBZone, where at least 35% of employees reside in a HUBZone, that are at least 51% owned and controlled by US citizens, and that meet SBA size standards. HUBZone designations include qualified census tracts, qualified non-metropolitan counties, certain Indian reservations, and qualified base closure areas. Boundaries change — the SBA HUBZone map is the authoritative source.

HUBZone requirements checklist

• Principal office located in a designated HUBZone (verify on the SBA HUBZone map)
• At least 35% of employees reside in a HUBZone
• 51% or more owned and controlled by US citizens (or a tribal government, ANC, CDC, or agricultural cooperative)
• Small business under the SBA size standard for your primary NAICS code
• Active SAM.gov registration with UEI
• Ability to maintain HUBZone status through the certification period (address, employee residency, ownership)

How to certify

Apply at certify.SBA.gov. Requires documentation of principal office location, employee residency, ownership, and small-business status. SBA conducts a desk review and sometimes a site visit. Recertification is required every three years and on any material change (move, ownership shift, etc.). Annual maintenance attestation also required.

1. 1. Check the SBA HUBZone map. Confirm your principal office address is in a currently qualified HUBZone. Boundaries change periodically — a previously qualified location may have expired. The SBA HUBZone map is the authoritative source.
2. 2. Verify employee residency. Document that at least 35% of your employees live in a HUBZone. Employees must average at least 40 hours per month. Residency is checked against the SBA HUBZone map.
3. 3. Register on SAM.gov. Complete or update your SAM.gov entity registration and obtain a UEI. HUBZone applications require an active SAM registration.
4. 4. Apply at certify.SBA.gov. Submit the HUBZone application with proof of principal office lease/ownership, employee list with home addresses, ownership documents, and small-business self-certification. Expect a desk review; some applications receive a site visit.
5. 5. Maintain and recertify. File an annual maintenance attestation to confirm continued eligibility. Full recertification is required every three years, or on any material change (office move, ownership shift, employee residency change).

What it gets you

Eligibility to compete for HUBZone set-aside contracts (restricted to HUBZone-certified firms). A 10% price evaluation preference in full-and-open competitions (your priced bid is compared with a 10% reduction). Sole-source awards up to $4 million ($7 million for manufacturing). Counts toward agency small-business goals.