Three Rivers Business Alliance

3RBA’s LGBTBE® Certification Growth Initiative seeks to expand the number of certified LGBTBE® in the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny region. Currently, 3RBA has four members who are certified LGBTBE®. The Certification Growth Initiative plans on increasing that number to twenty-five (25) by the end of its 2018/2019 fiscal year (i.e., June 30, 2019).

The Certification Growth Initiative will achieve its goal by having 3RBA’s LGBTBE® Certification Committee make presentations about the NGLCC certification program and its benefits during each of 3RBA’s member meetings and social events. These presentations will include highlighting members who are certified LGBTBEs and provide them an opportunity to talk about the NGLCC certification process and how it has benefited their businesses.

Also, 3RBA’s LGBTBE® Certification Committee will market the Certification Growth Initiative and provide on-line access to training, resources and other certification materials via 3RBA’s web site and other social media outlets. The Committee will create brochures and other marketing materials that will be distributed at 3RBA’s member meetings, social events and other venues. These marketing materials will explain the NGLCC certification program and its benefits and will prominently identify Wells Fargo, NGLCC and 3RBA and their respective logos.

As part of its marketing activities, 3RBA will identify itself on LGBT business directories for the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny region and will purchase on-line ads to encourage LGBT business owners to join 3RBA and become a certified LGBTBE®. To the extent possible, these ads will co-brand the Certification Growth Initiative with Wells Fargo, 3RBA and NGLCC. Further, 3RBA will promote the Certification Growth Initiative to other diverse chambers or supplier diversity organizations in the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny region. Additionally, as its members get certified, 3RBA will feature them on its web site and issue press releases on social media and to the local papers.

The Certification Growth Initiative will include at least two workshops/matching-making events focused on assisting LGBT business owners with the certification process and meeting corporate partners interested in working with those in the LGBT business community. These workshops/match-making events will be attended by corporate partners who will explain how certified LGBTBEs can become part of their Supplier Diversity programs.

If successful, the Certification Growth Initiative will result in a six-fold increase in the number of certified LGBTBEs in the Pittsburgh/Greater Allegheny region. Such growth will not only improve the diversity of the region’s supplier network but also confirm the LGBT business owners’ impact on the local economy.