For Workers
Get Certified & Find Opportunities
Apply for Section 3 Worker Certification and express interest in employment, apprenticeship, training, and workforce opportunities.
SDDBA Section 3
Section 3 Certification & Opportunity Program
Connecting Qualified Workers and Businesses With Employment, Training & Contracting Opportunities
The San Diego Diverse Business Association (SDDBA) Section 3 Certification & Opportunity Program helps identify, document, certify, and connect eligible Section 3 workers and Section 3 business concerns with employment, training, contracting, subcontracting, and other economic opportunities.
SDDBA reviews applications using the applicable criteria and documentation standards established under 24 CFR Part 75.
SDDBA certification is an independent determination based on information and documentation submitted to SDDBA. SDDBA certification is not HUD certification and does not guarantee that another HUD funding recipient, Public Housing Agency, contractor, or other organization will accept an SDDBA certification for its own compliance purposes.
For Businesses
Get Certified & Find Contracting Opportunities
Apply for SDDBA Section 3 Business Concern Certification, join the certified business registry, and search contracting opportunities.
For Employers & Contractors
Find Section 3 Workers
Employers, contractors, developers, and agencies can request referrals to SDDBA-certified Section 3 workers.
For Contracting Organizations
Find Section 3 Business Concerns
Agencies, developers, prime contractors, and other organizations can request referrals to SDDBA-certified Section 3 businesses.
Section 3 Project Support
Get Section 3 Project Assistance
SDDBA provides outreach, referral, opportunity-distribution, technical-assistance, and documentation-support services.
Verify Certification
Verify an SDDBA Section 3 Certification
Verify the current status of an SDDBA-issued Section 3 certification by certification number or business name.
Need Help Applying?
SDDBA provides virtual and appointment-based assistance with Section 3 worker and business certification applications, opportunity navigation, and technical assistance.
Request AssistanceHow SDDBA Section 3 Certification Works
1
Apply
Complete the applicable SDDBA Section 3 Worker or Business Concern certification application.
2
Submit Documentation
Provide the certifications, attestations, or other documentation applicable to the Section 3 eligibility criterion being used.
3
SDDBA Review
SDDBA reviews the application and applicable documentation against the relevant requirements of 24 CFR Part 75.
4
Determination
Approved applicants receive an SDDBA Section 3 certification number and certification record.
5
Connect With Opportunities
Certified workers and businesses may receive information about applicable employment, training, contracting, subcontracting, and other economic opportunities.
Certification does not guarantee employment, a contract, subcontract, award, preference, or selection.
What Is a Section 3 Worker?
Under 24 CFR Part 75, a Section 3 worker is a worker who currently meets, or when hired within the previous five years met, at least one qualifying criterion, including applicable HUD income requirements, employment by a Section 3 business concern, or participation in YouthBuild.
What Is a Section 3 Business Concern?
A business concern may qualify if it meets at least one of the applicable criteria under 24 CFR § 75.5, documented within the previous six months, including qualifying ownership/control, qualifying Section 3 worker labor hours, or qualifying ownership/control by current public housing or Section 8-assisted housing residents.
Section 3 Outreach & Technical Assistance
SDDBA provides outreach, resource navigation, certification assistance, opportunity distribution, and technical assistance to workers, businesses, employers, contractors, developers, and organizations participating in Section 3 activities.
Possible assistance may include:
- Understanding Section 3 eligibility
- Certification application assistance
- Business readiness
- Capability statements
- Government contracting resources
- Opportunity referrals
- Worker recruitment outreach
- Business outreach
- Training and workshop referrals
- Connecting contractors with Section 3 workers and businesses
Important Certification Notice
The San Diego Diverse Business Association (SDDBA) administers an independent Section 3 certification, registry, outreach, and opportunity program using applicable criteria and documentation standards established under 24 CFR Part 75.
An SDDBA certification represents SDDBA’s determination, based upon the information and documentation provided to SDDBA, that the applicant met the applicable Section 3 criteria at the time of review.
SDDBA is not the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a Public Housing Agency, or a governmental certifying authority. SDDBA certification does not constitute HUD certification or governmental endorsement.
HUD funding recipients, contractors, subcontractors, developers, employers, and other organizations remain responsible for determining what documentation they will accept and for satisfying their own obligations under applicable Section 3 requirements.
Certification does not guarantee employment, training, contracting, subcontracting, funding, preference, selection, or award.
Section 3 Privacy Notice
- Worker certification records are private.
- Eligibility documentation is not part of the public registry.
- Business supporting documentation is private.
- SDDBA may maintain certification records for program administration, verification, reporting, outreach, and opportunity matching.
- Only specifically authorized business information may appear in the public business registry.
- SDDBA will not publicly display Social Security numbers, personal income documentation, housing-assistance documentation, private ownership documentation, or other sensitive eligibility records.
By submitting an application, you acknowledge and consent to the collection, maintenance, and use of your information as described in this notice.
Get Started
Apply as a WorkerApply as a BusinessWorker Opportunity CenterBusiness Opportunity CenterReverify My Business CertificationView Certified Business RegistryCertification Standards & PoliciesOfficial Section 3 ResourcesSection 3 Program Impact
SDDBA provides independent Section 3 certification, registry, outreach, resource navigation, technical assistance, and opportunity connection. SDDBA certification is not HUD certification and does not constitute a determination of a HUD funding recipient’s compliance with 24 CFR Part 75.