In an effort to spur job creation by allowing businesses to save time and money while eliminating bureaucracy, the City of Chicago has implemented a reciprocal certification program with Cook County for MBE and WBE businesses.  The new program will allow small minority and women-owned businesses to be certified by just one government, and have that certification accepted by both entities. 

The new procedure offers a one-stop certification procedure for minority and women-owned businesses, and is another way City and County government are working together to simplify processes and provide opportunity in challenging economic times.  Standardization of certification will relax the financial burden on businesses, who will no longer have to simultaneously deal with two systems and two different sets of regulations.