Supplier diversity in Atlanta.
Atlanta has historically been one of the strongest Black-owned business markets in the U.S., and the City's supplier diversity infrastructure reflects that. The City of Atlanta Office of Contract Compliance has one of the highest M/WBE participation rates of any major U.S. city, and the Atlanta metro is home to a uniquely concentrated Fortune 500 base — Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot, UPS — with mature supplier diversity programs.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic — is administered by the City of Atlanta and runs one of the largest concession and contract DBE programs in the FAA system.
- Logistics and transportation
- beverage and consumer goods
- financial services
- retail
- telecommunications
- healthcare
- life sciences
- hospitality
City and county certification programs in Atlanta
**City of Atlanta M/FBE certification** (Minority/Female Business Enterprise) is administered by the Office of Contract Compliance for City of Atlanta procurement and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport contracts.
**Georgia DOAS (Department of Administrative Services) Small Business Program** is the State of Georgia certification for state agency contracts.
**MARTA DBE program** for federally-funded transit work. MARTA capital programs and ongoing operations generate substantial DBE-eligible subcontracting volume.
Where to certify in the Atlanta region
Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC)
Process your NMSDC MBE certification through this regional council.
Visit the council →Greater Women's Business Council (GWBC)
Process your WBENC WBE certification through this Regional Partner Organization.
Visit the RPO →Federal contracting opportunities in Atlanta
Federal contracting in Atlanta concentrates at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HQ — major IT, life sciences, and professional services procurement), the VA (Atlanta VAMC), Department of Defense (Robins Air Force Base in nearby Warner Robins), GSA Region 4, and Department of Homeland Security operations at Hartsfield-Jackson.
CDC in particular is a strong 8(a) and SDVOSB buyer for IT services, biological surveillance, and professional services NAICS. The Atlanta VA is among the larger SDVOSB-friendly procurement environments in the Southeast.
Fortune 500 buyers headquartered in or near Atlanta
Atlanta metro Fortune 500 supplier diversity programs:
**Headquartered in Atlanta:** Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, UPS, Cox Enterprises, Truist, NCR Voyix, Newell Brands, Mohawk Industries, Genuine Parts (NAPA), Aflac (Columbus), Southern Company.
These companies collectively have run some of the most-cited Fortune 500 supplier diversity programs in the country. UPS, Coca-Cola, and Home Depot in particular are among the original Billion Dollar Roundtable members (corporations spending $1B+ annually with diverse suppliers).
Atlanta is also a major regional headquarters for several non-headquartered Fortune 500s including AT&T (HQ Dallas), Mercedes-Benz USA (HQ now in Atlanta), and several major financial services firms.
Atlanta FAQ
Why is Atlanta considered a strong Black-owned business market?
Atlanta has the highest concentration of Black-owned businesses among major U.S. metros and the highest median Black household income. The combination of Atlanta University Center (the largest contiguous historically Black college consortium in the U.S.), strong municipal supplier diversity infrastructure, and concentrated Fortune 500 buyer base creates an ecosystem where Black-owned MBEs scale at higher rates than the national average.
How do I get certified for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport contracts?
Hartsfield-Jackson is administered by the City of Atlanta, so you certify through the City's Office of Contract Compliance M/FBE program. For DBE-eligible airport contracts (federally-funded improvements), you also need DBE certification through the Georgia DOT. Many Atlanta-area firms carry both credentials.
Which Atlanta Fortune 500 companies have the most aggressive supplier diversity goals?
UPS, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines are all founding or longtime members of the Billion Dollar Roundtable (Fortune 500 companies spending $1B+ annually with diverse suppliers). All maintain dedicated supplier diversity teams and reference NMSDC and WBENC certifications for their MBE/WBE participation goals.
Certify and bid in Atlanta.
The certification quiz checks your business against every federal, state, and corporate certification in play for the Atlanta market and orders the matches by which buyers active here accept each one.