How to Become a Registered Vendor with the City of Asheville
One of the unexpected outcomes of the June Biz Hero Solutions Lab event in Asheville, NC was the number of valuable resources that continued to surface after the event had ended.
As business owners discussed growth opportunities, contracting, community partnerships, and scaling their operations, questions arose about how local businesses can work with the City of Asheville.
Following the event, Marcus Kirkman, Business Inclusion Manager with the City of Asheville, generously shared information for businesses interested in becoming registered vendors and pursuing Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification.
We're sharing that information here as a resource for the broader business community.
Step One: Become a Registered Vendor
City of Asheville Vendor Registration link
For any business interested in contracting with the City of Asheville, the first step is becoming a registered vendor.
Vendor applications are processed through the City's Finance Department and generally take between three and five business days to complete.
Once approved, businesses receive a unique vendor number that can be used for future bids and contracting opportunities.
If you experience difficulties during the registration process, the City recommends contacting:
The Most Important Part of Registration: NIGP Codes
Marcus emphasized one critical detail that many businesses overlook.
When completing vendor registration, businesses should carefully select the correct NIGP codes.
NIGP stands for National Institute of Government Procurement.
These codes identify the products and services your business provides.
Why does this matter?
More than seventeen City of Asheville departments post and manage contracted work. Department leaders and project managers frequently search vendor databases using NIGP classifications when looking for qualified businesses.
If your codes don't accurately reflect your services, your business may not appear in those searches.
The City of Asheville's vendor and MWBE databases are also publicly searchable, meaning other municipalities, agencies, organizations, and businesses may discover your company through these listings as well.
In short:
The right NIGP codes improve your visibility and help ensure the right opportunities can find you.
MWBE Certification: Increasing Your Visibility
If your business is minority-owned or women-owned, you may also want to explore MWBE (Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise) Certification through the City of Asheville.
In addition to recognizing your business as a certified MWBE firm, certification places your company in the City's MWBE directory. This makes it easier for city departments, project managers, contractors, and other organizations seeking diverse suppliers to identify and connect with qualified businesses.
According to Marcus Kirkman, the City's MWBE certification process typically takes five to seven business days once all required documentation has been submitted.
Once approved, businesses receive:
A City of Asheville MWBE Letter of Certification
An official MWBE Certificate
Certification remains valid for three years.
Should You Also Pursue HUB Certification?
For many businesses, the answer may be yes.
HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) Certification is offered through the State of North Carolina and provides an additional opportunity to increase your visibility for government and institutional contracting opportunities.
Like Asheville's MWBE program, the state's HUB program maintains a searchable directory of certified businesses, helping agencies and organizations identify qualified vendors.
The City of Asheville offers separate MWBE application pathways for businesses that are already HUB-certified and those that are not, making it worthwhile to explore both programs if your business qualifies.
Together, vendor registration, accurate NIGP codes, MWBE certification, and HUB certification can help ensure your business is easier to find when opportunities arise.
The Economic Impact of HUB Businesses in North Carolina
The value of HUB certification extends beyond increasing visibility for contracting opportunities.
In 2025, Marcus Kirkman served alongside seven other steering committee members from across North Carolina in the state's first-ever Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Economic Impact Study. Representing the City of Asheville and Buncombe County, Kirkman helped examine the measurable economic contributions of HUB-certified firms throughout the state.
The study found that HUB businesses generate significant economic benefits for North Carolina communities, including:
• $2.6 billion in total economic impact from HUB contracts
• More than 54,000 jobs supported across North Carolina
• $51.5 million in state tax revenue generated
• For every $1 invested in HUB businesses, North Carolina realized $2,694 in economic activity and $60.50 in new tax revenue
The findings reinforce what many business advocates have long argued: investing in historically underutilized businesses is not simply a matter of supplier diversity—it is also a sound economic development strategy.
HUB-certified firms create jobs, strengthen local supply chains, reinvest in their communities, and contribute to inclusive economic growth across the state.
As Kirkman shared with local business leaders, every HUB-certified business contributes to North Carolina's economic success, helping generate measurable returns for communities, taxpayers, and the broader economy.
Businesses interested in learning more can review the complete HUB Economic Impact Study at Prosperity by Design NC.
Why This Matters
One of the themes that emerged repeatedly during the June Biz Hero Solutions Lab was that growth opportunities often exist closer to home than we realize.
Many small businesses focus exclusively on finding new customers while overlooking opportunities to work with municipalities, government agencies, and community institutions.
Taking the time to become a registered vendor, ensuring your NIGP codes are accurate, and exploring MWBE or HUB certification may open doors that many business owners never knew existed.
Special thanks to Marcus Kirkman and the City of Asheville for sharing this information with our community.
Related Reading:
This resource emerged from conversations that took place during the June 8, 2026 Biz Hero Solutions Lab. Read more about how those conversations helped shape the evolution of the Solutions Lab into a 90-day experience focused on implementation, accountability, and community support.
