SBA HUBZone Program
Federal contracting program for small businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones. ALERT (effective July 1, 2026): The 3-year grace period for HUBZone Redesignated Areas expired July 1, 2026. Businesses whose principal office is ONLY in a Redesignated Area (not an active QCT, Indian Reservation, or Governor-Designated Community) lost HUBZone eligibility as of that date. Verify current status at certify.sba.gov before pursuing set-aside contracts.
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
See whether a specific Chicago address sits inside the area that unlocks SBA HUBZone Program, alongside every other incentive that touches that parcel.
Small businesses, under SBA size standards, with their principal office in a HUBZone and at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone. Many South and West Side Chicago corridors qualify.
SBA HUBZone Program is tied to the SBA HUBZone geography — being inside that boundary is the first eligibility gate. A single address can fall inside several overlapping incentive areas at once.
Boundaries are precise and change over time, so exact eligibility always depends on the specific address. The fastest way to know is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind.
Typical range · Contract set-asides + 10% price preference
- +Access to HUBZone set-aside and sole-source federal contracts
- +10% price evaluation preference in full and open federal bidding
- +Supports businesses competing for federal procurement opportunities
- 1Confirm the principal office address is in a HUBZone on SBA's official map
- 2Verify at least 35% of employees live in HUBZone areas
- 3Register the business in SAM.gov if not already registered
- 4Apply for HUBZone certification through SBA at certify.sba.gov
- 5Once certified, pursue HUBZone set-aside opportunities on SAM.gov
Check the address on SBA's HUBZone map, then confirm certification requirements with SBA
- Proof of principal office location, such as a lease or deed
- Employee residency documentation
- SAM.gov registration
- Business formation and ownership documents
This page is a starting point, not eligibility, legal, or tax advice. Verify current requirements, deadlines, and boundaries with the administering agency before applying or spending money — program rules and funding change over time.
- Phone
- (800) 827-5722
- hubzone@sba.gov
- Web
- Visit site ↗
Last verified 2026-07-02
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