HUBZone Program (Federal)

The HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year. The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses in historically underutilized business zones. It also gives preferential consideration to those businesses in full and open competition. Joining the HUBZone program makes your business eligible to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also get a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions. HUBZone-certified businesses can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs they qualify for.

To qualify for the HUBZone program, a business must: be a small business; be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, an Alaska Native corporation, a Native Hawaiian organization, or an Indian tribe; have its principal office located in a HUBZone; and have at least 35% of its employees living in a HUBZone.

Businesses need to recertify for the HUBZone program once a year. There is no limit to the length of time a business can participate as long as it continues to qualify. Businesses that purchase a building or enter a long-term lease (of 10 years or more) may maintain HUBZone eligibility for up to 10 years, even if at some point the office location no longer qualifies as a HUBZone.

Qualified HUBZone Census Tracts exist in 4 of the 5 counties of the Austin MSA and can be identified with the SBA HUBZone Map application.