The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee is no longer accepting applications for the Business Connect program. All selections have been made and the submission portal is now closed.

About Super Bowl LII Business Connect

The NFL Business Connect program is the National Football League’s Super Bowl and special event supplier diversity program. The Minnesota Super Bowl LII Host Committee, in partnership with the NFL, launched the Super Bowl Business Connect program in fall of 2016. The program serves as a conduit for qualified, diverse and underutilized businesses in Minnesota to compete for contracting opportunities that will be generated by Super Bowl LII in 2018. Additionally, the program offers networking, educational and other business development opportunities for local, event services businesses in the 13 counties surrounding the Twin Cities.

The Super Bowl’s Business Connect Program is focused on creating contract and business development opportunities for certified minority, woman, veteran, lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender-owned qualified, diverse businesses.

Experienced, event-ready, local businesses in the region must register by April 1, 2017 to participate in the program’s contracting opportunities through Business Connect and the program’s educational workshop series, which will be presented quarterly in 2017.

Advantages of Business Connect

To join the Super Bowl Business Connect program applicants must complete the online registration. The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee will review all applications and if approved, will communicate your successful partnership into the program.

The Host Committee will post the business information and company profiles provided by each participating business in the Super Bowl Business Connect Resource Guide (BCRG). The BCRG is the online database of approved, registered businesses that helps Super Bowl contractors and event producers, including the NFL, identify and select local businesses to partner with to complete their Super Bowl LII events.

Super Bowl Business Connect offers events, workshops and resources to help prepare businesses to participate it the Super Bowl procurement process, including but not limited to networking with representatives of the NFL and its key contractors. The networking opportunities are key in that they will provide businesses access to the NFL and their preferred contractors along with Host Committee corporate sponsors and local small business service providers.

Please note that participation in the Super Bowl Business Connect program does not guarantee Super Bowl LII-related contracts or business. Opportunities will have limited availability due to high interest in the program. The NFL and Host Committee are committed to maximizing local diverse small business participation. Registration with Super Bowl Business Connect facilitates the opportunity for Minnesota businesses to compete for the chance to provide goods and services to Super Bowl LII.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Super Bowl LII Business Connect, each business must:

• Be Headquartered in the state of Minnesota
• Be 51% owned by a minority, woman, veteran,or LGBT-owned business individual and certified as one of the following:
  • Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
  • Woman Business Enterprise (WBE)
  • Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB)
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Business Enterprise (NGLCC)
• Have been in operation for three (3) or more years (i.e. registered with the state)
• Provide goods or services requested by this program (see SBLII BC’s 56+ scopes of work)
• Must be in good standing and eligible to do business in the state of Minnesota

Certify/Verify

To certify/verify with the Business Connect program, businesses must provide proof with one and/or more of the certification bodies below. Please click on the link to initiate application for certification/verification:

• TG/ED – MN State Targeted Group Business Program (MN Dept. of Administration)
• CERT Central Certification Program (City of St. Paul, Minneapolis & Hennepin County)
• DBE – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (Federal- through the Minnesota Unified Certification Program)
• National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (nglcc.org)
• VOSB - Veteran Owned Small Business (federal verification program)
• NCMSDC - North Central Minority Supplier Development Council
• WBENC - Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
• NGLCC – National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce certification program