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
Compare the geocoded point for a Chicago address with the boundary used to screen SBA HUBZone Program. A match is a location signal; review the current program source for the boundary's role and remaining criteria.
Published criteria — confirm with U.S. Small Business Administration
- Principal office must be located in a HUBZone-designated area
- At least 35% of employees must live in a HUBZone
- Must qualify as a small business under SBA size standards
- Requires SBA HUBZone certification before bidding on set-asides; verify current requirements at certify.sba.gov before applying
SBA HUBZone Program is screened against the SBA HUBZone boundary. A geocoded point that intersects that boundary is a location signal, not a determination — review the current program source for the boundary's role and any remaining criteria. A single address can fall inside several overlapping incentive boundaries at once.
Boundaries are precise and change over time, so whether a specific address falls inside a mapped zone always depends on that exact address. The fastest way to check is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind — mapped coverage is a location signal, not an eligibility determination.
Range on file · Contract set-asides + 10% price preference
Current published terms as of 2026-07-02
- +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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