business-connect

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

resources

Contact

Featured Partners


Be The Match® is proud to partner with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and Business Connect businesses involved with Super Bowl LII. Just as Business Connect matches locally based, minority owned organizations to searching businesses coming to Minnesota next January, Be The Match connects a bone marrow donor to a searching blood cancer patient in need of a life-saving marrow transplant. Because tissue type is inherited, patients are most likely to match a donor who shares their ethnic background. Increasing the ethnic diversity of the registry helps more patients find a match.

Be a part of the team to grow the registry! Learn more about how you and your employees can get involved by contacting Terrance Hunter (thunter@NMDP.ORG), Senior Integrated Marketing Specialist at Be The Match.
Or, you can join the registry today by visiting Join.BeTheMatch.org/diversitymatters

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frequently asked
questions
How can local businesses get involved in the Super Bowl?

There are a number of ways local businesses can get involved in the Super Bowl, the primary of which is Business Connect, the NFL's supplier diversity program. The program will identify 300-400 small businesses, suppliers, and service providers from our area to participate in the program. Accepted businesses will be profiled in the resource guide, allowing those in need of their services to quickly identify qualified providers of goods and services.

Participants of Business Connect w ...continue reading

What does it take to be a volunteer?

Volunteers will undergo screening and training prior to being deployed during the Super Bowl festivities. More information will be available in late 2016; please sign up here to receive updates.

Are tickets to Super Bowl LII available?

All tickets for Super Bowl LII have been allocated by the NFL.

If you are interested in Super Bowl LII Suites or Hospitality, please contact info@mnsuperbowl.com.

How can I get involved?

While the Super Bowl will be seen by millions from around the world, this is still a Minnesota event, through and through. If you'd like to help, there's a way for all Minnesotans to volunteer for the Super Bowl. There are also paid positions, corporate partnerships, and, for local businesses, Business Connect. Click here to learn more about getting involved.

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february 04, 2018

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