MENU
Procure & Certify Cohort™ Application | BizBridges
Applications open now Apply Now
BizBridges™ · Life After HUB

Procure & Certify
Cohort™ Application

Build your certification, procurement readiness, and contract-winning systems.

This 8-week, statewide cohort helps existing businesses adversely affected by the closure of North Carolina's HUB office build their capability statements, register in additional procurement systems, and pursue new certifications. Sessions run virtually on Mondays from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM, October 19 through December 14, 2026. We are accepting 10 participants for this cohort.

Start Your Application See Full Details

Please complete every section as accurately as possible; your answers help us tailor the cohort to your business.

Procure and Certify Cohort flyer with program schedule, details, and NC IDEA and BizBridges logos
8 wksNext cohort starts Oct 19, 2026
Mondays12:00 – 2:30 PM ET
100% virtualLive & recorded sessions
StatewideExisting NC businesses
Is this cohort for you

Who should attend, and what you'll walk away with

The Procure & Certify Cohort™ is built for existing North Carolina businesses ready to grow their footing in public procurement.

1Who should attend

  • Established NC businesses
  • Businesses adversely affected by the closure of the HUB office
  • Owners who want to gain additional state, county, and city certifications
  • Businesses already registered as HUB vendors, ready to build on that foundation

2You will work toward

  • Additional certifications, including NCSBE, NCDOT, CVSDC, and US Chamber Buy Black
  • A professional capability statement
  • Stronger RFP response systems
  • Active listing in 7+ procurement platforms
  • A custom 90-day marketing plan
  • Loan readiness
How the cohort works

Plan. Prepare. Position. Win.

Four stages, one 8-week track, from where your business stands today to your first RFP response.

STAGE 01 Plan

Map your certification path and set your 2027 procurement goals.

STAGE 02 Prepare

Build your capability statement, RFP template, and marketing plan.

STAGE 03 Position

Get listed across statewide, regional, and local procurement systems.

STAGE 04 Win

Identify and respond to an active RFP before the cohort ends.

What's included

Everything you need between sessions, too

✓

Dedicated participant portal

Materials, recordings, and resources in one place, available for the full cohort and beyond.

✓

Private WhatsApp group

Direct support and connection with your cohort between live sessions.

✓

Virtual resource fair

Meet procurement partners and decision-makers directly, connected to your region.

✓

Welcome kit

The 90-Day Focus book, the Clarity, Capacity & Confidence digital book, and a financial funding strategy guide.

✓

Every session recorded

Can't make it live? Catch up anytime through your participant portal.

✓

Regional partner connections

Direct lines to procurement contacts in Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Asheville.

NCSBE NCDOT CVSDC US Chamber Buy Black 7+ Procurement Platforms
Cohort dates

Pick your cohort

Every session meets live on virtual Mondays, 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET, and is recorded.

Q1 2027

February 1 – March 22, 2027
Feb 1Feb 8Feb 15Feb 22Mar 1Mar 8Mar 15Mar 22

Q2 2027

May 3 – June 28, 2027
May 3May 10May 17May 24Jun 7Jun 14Jun 21Jun 28

Q3 2027

August 2 – September 27, 2027
Aug 2Aug 9Aug 16Aug 23Aug 30Sep 13Sep 20Sep 27

Q4 2027

November 1 – December 20, 2027
Nov 1Nov 8Nov 15Nov 29Dec 6Dec 13Dec 20

All sessions run Mondays, 12:00 – 2:30 PM ET. No class the week of Thanksgiving in the 2026 cohort.

Facilitated by

Your cohort leaders

Co-taught through BizBridges™, the joint venture of Give It To The People® and Infinity Bridges.

CP

Chisa Pennix-Brown, MBA

Chief Experience Cultivator, Give It To The People®

Founder and Chief Experience Cultivator of Give It To The People®, a North Carolina-based entrepreneurship education organization with 15+ years of statewide reach. Gold ELI Certified Facilitator and author of The 90-Day Focus: Your Action Plan for Success.

LB

La-Tasha Best-Gaddy, MPA

Chief Funding Strategist, Infinity Bridges

Founder and Chief Strategist of Infinity Bridges, with 25+ years of leadership experience across higher education, financial services, and economic development. Has helped entrepreneurs secure more than $20 million in capital and contracts.

The fine print

Program details

Program
Procure & Certify Cohort™, a Life After HUB initiative
Dates
2026 cohort: October 19 through December 14 (no class the week of Thanksgiving). 2027 cohorts run in Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4; see cohort dates.
Schedule
Live virtually every Monday, 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET (2.5 hours per session)
Sponsor
The 2026 cohort is sponsored by NC IDEA
Cohort size
10 participants, existing businesses statewide
Commitment
80% average attendance expected across all 8 sessions; all sessions recorded if you need to catch up
Cost
Contact us for current tuition and available funding support
Facilitators
Chisa Pennix-Brown (Give It To The People®) and La-Tasha Best-Gaddy (Infinity Bridges), through BizBridges™
Ready when you are

8 weeks. One clear path to your next contract.

Complete the application below and our team will follow up on next steps for the October 19 cohort.

Apply for the Cohort Or visit giveittothepeople.com/form/procure-certify
BIZBRIDGES™

A joint venture of Give It To The People® and Infinity Bridges, powering the Procure & Certify Cohort™ and the Life After HUB initiative.

Apply Now Who Should Attend Cohort Dates Facilitators Program Details
This activity received support from NC IDEA.
© 2026 Give It To The People® × Infinity Bridges. BizBridges™ and Procure & Certify Cohort™ are trademarks of this joint venture.

APPLY

Thank you for contacting us!

We have received your message and will contact you by the end of September with next steps.

In the meantime, join our business membership at www.giveitgetit.biz.

You can also attend our virtual events by subscribing to our calendar at www.luma.com/giveitgetit

 

-Give It To The People 

View Receipt View Submission

Procure & Certify Cohort™ is an 8-week, statewide cohort helps existing businesses adversely affected by the closure of North Carolina's HUB office build their capability statements, register in additional procurement systems, and pursue new certifications. Sessions run virtually on Mondays from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM, October 19 through December 14, 2026. We are accepting 10 participants for this cohort. Please complete every section below as accurately as possible; your answers help us tailor the cohort to your business.


This cohort is  sponsored in part by NC IDEA! 

Country
State/Province
Select

OWNER DEMOGRAPHICS

CERTIFICATION STATUS

Select

BUSINESS FINANCIALS

GOALS & PROGRAM FIT 

The participation fee for the Procure & Certify Cohort™ is $750 per participant and is nonrefundable. Applicants selected for the cohort will have the option to pay the fee in full or choose from available payment-plan options. Payment arrangements must be completed by the stated enrollment deadline to secure a place in the cohort.

Required acknowledgment: I understand that the Procure & Certify Cohort™ participation fee is $750 and is nonrefundable. If selected, I agree to pay the fee in full or enroll in an approved payment plan by the required deadline. I understand that submitting this application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
The Procure & Certify Cohort™ may include photography, video recording, screenshots, testimonials, and recorded virtual sessions. These materials may be used by Give It To The People®, Infinity Bridges, Biz & Bridge™, NC IDEA, and authorized program partners for program documentation, reporting, education, marketing, social media, websites, presentations, and future promotional materials.

By participating, you authorize the use of your name, image, likeness, voice, business name, and statements captured during cohort activities without additional payment or compensation. This authorization does not permit the disclosure of confidential business, financial, or application information without additional consent.


This form is protected by reCAPTCHA to prevent spam and abuse. Information collected may be processed for security purposes.

Thank you for contacting us!

We have received your message and will contact you by the end of September with next steps.

In the meantime, join our business membership at www.giveitgetit.biz.

You can also attend our virtual events by subscribing to our calendar at www.luma.com/giveitgetit

 

-Give It To The People 

View Submission
Leave this field empty
CLOSE