# Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-92 by adding new Section 2-92-535 to establish City-based small business certification program

[Legislation tracker](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/tracker) › [Contracting Oversight and Equity](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/contracting-oversight-and-equity) › [36th Ward: Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36)

- Record number: **O2025-0018578**
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: In Committee (Referred)
- Sponsor: [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (36th Ward)
- Committee: [Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/contracting-oversight-and-equity)
- Submitted Date: Jul 10, 2025
- Introduction Date: Jul 16, 2025
- Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=D976FE53-E05D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE191)

## Impact report

> Written by AI from [the official document](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/0f046682-0f95-4aa5-b304-2f0a73bea6c5.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance would create a new City program to certify small businesses that are based in Chicago, run by the Chief Procurement Officer.

**Who it affects**

- **Small businesses based in Chicago**: They could apply to be certified as a City-based small business if most of their full-time workers work at a facility in the City, they hold all needed City licenses, and they pay City taxes.
- **Businesses seeking City contracts**: Their size would be judged by average gross receipts over the previous seven years, compared with 1.5 times the U.S. Small Business Administration size standards for the type of contract work.
- **Business owners of any race, gender, or disability status**: The certification could not consider the owner's race, gender, disability status, or any other status not listed in the section.
- **Businesses in existing City certification programs**: The new certification would be separate from the Minority and Women Business Enterprise program, the Veterans Business Enterprise program, and other City certification programs.
- **City Council Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity**: It would receive a report twice a year from the Chief Procurement Officer about businesses certified under the program.

**What changes**

- A new City-based small business certification would be created.
- To qualify, a business must have most of its full-time workforce at a facility in Chicago, hold all needed City licenses, and pay City taxes.
- Small business size would be based on seven-year average gross receipts not exceeding 1.5 times federal SBA size standards.
- Owner race, gender, and disability status could not be considered in certification.
- The Chief Procurement Officer would set standards and procedures and report to the Council twice a year.

**Where**: 36th Ward

**When**: After passage and publication

## Timeline

- Jul 16, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.

## Documents

- [Small Business Certification Ordinance.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/0f046682-0f95-4aa5-b304-2f0a73bea6c5.pdf) (Legislation)

## Related legislation

**More from Gilbert Villegas**

- [Tribute to late Michael Keller Ditka](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0029456-tribute-late-michael-keller-ditka) (R2026-0029456, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-44-055 establishing scoring criteria for 9% tax credits](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029453-scoring-criteria-9-tax-credits) (O2026-0029453, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Exemption from physical barrier requirement for commercial driveway alley access for Best West Auto Repair, Inc.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0027919-exemption-physical-barrier-requirement-commercial-driveway) (O2026-0027919, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed)

**More on Municipal Code Amendments**

- [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 9-24-065 regarding ability to pay pilot program](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029654-regarding-ability-pay-pilot-program) (O2026-0029654, introduced Dec 8, 2026, Council Introduction)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4 and 8 regarding technical and scriveners' corrections (2027 Municipal Code Corrections Ordinance)](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029649-titles-3-4-8-regarding-technical) (O2026-0029649, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14A, 15, 17 regarding management, structure, powers and functions of various…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029644-titles-2-4-6-7-8) (O2026-0029644, introduced Oct 21, 2026, Referred)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2025-0018578-adding-new-establish-city-based-small · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt