The Journal

Reporting on supplier diversity.

Working coverage of certifications, corporate procurement, federal contracting, financing, and the operators making each work for diverse-owned businesses. Every piece checked against primary sources.

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Austin

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Guide

Guide · 8 min

How to become a vendor for the City of Austin: registration, certification, and bids

Austin runs vendor registration, bid posting, and electronic offers through one system: Austin Finance Online. This guide walks you through registering, getting …

Jul 27, 2026 · Maya Okonkwo

Guide

Guide · 7 min

Supplier diversity in Austin: certifications, programs, and how to get contracts

Austin has no state M/WBE certification—but the City of Austin's SMBR program, Southwest MSDC, and federal DBE requirements at Capital Metro and …

Jul 13, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Reader tools

Apply what's in the reporting to your own business.

Most of what gets covered here turns into a question of which certification you should pursue first. The eligibility quiz checks your business against every certification we track and returns a ranked list with the buyers each opens.

Run the certification quiz → Browse certification guides