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.
Please complete every section as accurately as possible; your answers help us tailor the cohort to your business.
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
Plan. Prepare. Position. Win.
Four stages, one 8-week track, from where your business stands today to your first RFP response.
Map your certification path and set your 2027 procurement goals.
Build your capability statement, RFP template, and marketing plan.
Get listed across statewide, regional, and local procurement systems.
Identify and respond to an active RFP before the cohort ends.
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.
Your cohort leaders
Co-taught through BizBridges™, the joint venture of Give It To The People® and Infinity Bridges.
Chisa Pennix-Brown, MBA
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.
La-Tasha Best-Gaddy, MPA
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.
Program details
- Program
- Procure & Certify Cohort™, a Life After HUB: Procurement In Action™ initiative
- Dates
- October 19 through December 14, 2026 (8 weekly sessions; no class the week of Thanksgiving)
- Schedule
- Live virtually every Monday, 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM ET (2.5 hours per session)
- 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™
10 seats. 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