JJD Matthew Construction Inc.

My fellow minority-owned businesses…

Like many contractors, we were told to expect the NYS MWBE certification process to take six months or more. Paperwork. Delays. Confusion. Missed opportunities while waiting on the sidelines.

That reality almost kept us from applying.

Then we found AMBE.

What we assumed would be an exhausting, drawn-out process became clear, structured, and fast. From the very first call, AMBE’s team walked us through every step—breaking down the NYS MWBE application, identifying gaps before they became problems, and keeping the process moving with purpose.

Three weeks after submission, we were certified.

Let that sink in.

MBE Submission

Screenshot of an email from the New York State Certification System confirming approval of a Minority Business Enterprise certification for JD Matthew Construction Inc., dated March 11, 2024.

MBE Approval

Screenshot of an email regarding a certification application review for Rudolph Southwell, with a map outline of New York and the text 'NEW YORK STATE OF OPPORTUNITY' at the top.

The Moment Everything Changed

Certification wasn’t just a certificate—it was a door-opener.

Within one week of approval, JJD Matthew Construction began receiving:

  • RFQs

  • Bid invitations

  • Requests from larger MWBE primes needing compliant partners

The credibility was immediate. The access was real.

Our First Union Job — Before Certification Was Even Final

The images on this page tell a powerful story.

This interior construction project—our first union job ever—was awarded in anticipation of our MWBE certification. The total project value ultimately reached nearly $400,000, carved out of a $6 million contract held by another MWBE contractor.

Why?

  • Because they needed a certified partner to stay in compliance.

  • Because MWBEs look out for each other.

  • Because certification turns competition into collaboration.

An indoor construction site with unfinished walls, exposed ceiling pipes, and scattered construction tools and equipment. There are safety signs on the wall, and a person sitting by the window in the background.

Pictures of NYS Hospital’s construction site per subcontract awarded upon JJD Matthew Construction’s receipt of NYS MBE certification.

Construction site interior with exposed ductwork, electrical wiring, scattered building materials, and construction equipment, indicating ongoing building work.
Empty hospital corridor with patient rooms and a waiting area with a gray armchair. Shows construction work done by JJD Matthews, a recipient of the NYS MBE.

Ask Yourself This

What happens when we’re certified—and we intentionally look out for one another?

  • Prime contractors stay compliant

  • Smaller firms get real work, not promises

  • Million-dollar contracts circulate within our communities

  • Experience, bonding, and union exposure compound

This isn’t theory.
This is already happening.

The Hard Truth (And the Urgency)

There are over 1 million eligible minority-owned businesses nationwide.

AMBE can only support 5,000.

We are a small, hands-on team by design—because speed, accuracy, and accountability matter. That also means not everyone will get this opportunity.

If you’re waiting…

  • Someone else is getting certified.

  • Someone else is getting the call.

  • Someone else is getting your first big break.

Our Endorsement

We wholeheartedly recommend AMBE to any minority-owned business serious about:

  • Accessing millions in NYS contracts

  • Fast, accurate MWBE certification

  • Turning certification into actual revenue

Our journey with JJD Matthew Construction is proof of what’s possible—when the right guidance meets the right moment.

Don’t lose yours.