A government is the body within a community, political entity or organization which has the authority to make and enforce rules, laws, and regulations. Typically, the term "government" refers to a civil government or sovereign state which can be either local, national, or international.

Unfortunately, not many people are a stranger to the downward spiraling economy that began in December 2007 and continued to deplete throughout 2008. In fact, November 2008 marked some of worst numbers in decades in terms of job loss The unemployment rate among African Americans, for example, remained high at 11.2 percent.

A denomination, in the Christian sense of the word, is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and/or doctrine. Christianity is composed of four major divisions of Churches: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Protestant.

Just as student report cards provide parents with information on their child's performance, the NC School Report Cards offer a snapshot of some of the important information about individual schools. The State Board of Education and State Superintendent June Atkinson are committed to ensuring that North Carolina’s schools are preparing students for the demands of college and skilled work in the 21st Century.

Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program. The statewide HUB Program facilitates the use of HUBs in state procurement and provides information on the state's procurement process to minority and woman- owned businesses.

A "Historically Underutilized Business"...
...is at least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American and/or American woman,
...is an entity with its principal place of business in Texas, and
...has an owner residing in Texas with a proportionate interest that actively participates in the control, operations and management of the entity's affairs.
In accordance with Texas Administrative Code §20.13, each state agency shall make a good faith effort to utilize HUBs in contracts for construction, services (including professional and consulting services) and commodities purchases.

The Statewide HUB Program provides HUB certification for minority and woman-owned businesses in the State of Texas. Vendors seeking certification as a HUB are required to submit a completed HUB certification application and supporting documentation, affirming under penalty of perjury that their business qualifies as a HUB*.

Benefits of HUB Certification
•HUB certification is free of charge.
•Certification is valid for 4 years, provided that business continues to meet the eligibility requirements*.
•Business is registered on the Comptroller’s Web-based HUB Directory. State agencies use the HUB Directory in conjunction with the Comptroller’s Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) to solicit bids from certified HUBs for state purchasing and public works contracts. Prime contractors also use the HUB Directory to identify HUBs to whom they will send notification of their subcontracting opportunities.
•Increased exposure to the general public, as well as, other entities who have a supplier diversity program and are searching for minority and woman-owned businesses.
* Vendors may also receive HUB certification by way of a certification memorandum of agreement the Statewide HUB Program has entered into with other local governments or nonprofit organizations. View more about HUB Certification Agreements

NEW: Vendors can now apply online for HUB certification. Click Here