National Minority Enterprise Development Week Powered by MBDA

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is honored to celebrate Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week in partnership with the National Minority Supplier Development Council at the 2018 NMSDC Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange.

President Donald J. Trump Proclaims October 22 through October 28, 2017, as National Minority Enterprise Development Week

Since our earliest days, hardworking entrepreneurs have driven our Nation's prosperity. During Minority Enterprise Development Week, we recognize the contributions that minority owned businesses make to our economy and our way of life, and we strive to ensure that small business owners have access to the resources they need to achieve the American Dream.

Powered by MBDA 2017

Since 1983, every president has issued a Presidential Proclamation designating a National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week to recognize the contributions of the minority business community to the U.S. economy. This year President Trump will proclaim National MED Week October 22 – 28, 2017. Learn more about our programming at the NMSDC Conference.

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In honor of National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, our first-of-its-kind collaboration with the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC) offers these Powered by MBDA learning opportunities.

RESOURCES TO EXPAND YOU GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

Speaker/Materials

Nominations Sought for 2014 National MED Week Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2014

Contact: Al Betancourt - MBDA Public Affairs
Email: abetancourt@mbda.gov

Program Recognizes Outstanding Achievements of Minority Entrepreneurs, Individuals, Organizations

WASHINGTON (February 12, 2014) —The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) today announced that it is accepting nominations for the 2014 National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards competition. The program celebrates and recognizes the outstanding achievements of minority entrepreneurs, as well as individuals and organizations that have demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing the minority business community.

“The MED Week awards were created to recognize individuals and firms who exemplify entrepreneurial innovation and a commitment to creating jobs while helping our nation remain competitive in the global economy,” said Alejandra Castillo, MBDA Acting National Director. “With nearly six million minority-owned businesses across the United States, we anticipate having a robust slate of candidates to choose from. We look forward to the opportunity to highlight some of these outstanding business leaders.”

MBDA Recognizes 2013 National MED Week Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2013

Contact: Al Betancourt - MBDA Press Secretary
Email: abetancourt@mbda.gov

WASHINGTON (December 2, 2013) —The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) today recognized the 2013 National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Award winners. The winners include 12 organizations, businesses and individuals who have demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing the minority business community. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker presented the awards during a ceremony in Washington, DC.

“I am pleased to recognize and personally congratulate the 2013 National Minority Enterprise Development Week Award winners,” said Secretary Pritzker. “Helping American businesses grow and create jobs is the key focus of the Commerce Department’s ‘Open for Business Agenda,’ and today’s award recipients are playing a critical role in those efforts by helping minority-owned businesses innovate, expand and thrive.”

Winners were selected for the following awards: Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award; Champions of Minority Business Development; and Minority-Owned Firms. The awards are designed to celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements of minority entrepreneurs based on the challenges the business has overcome, total revenues, total jobs created and the economic impact the business has had on the community. MBDA also recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing the minority business community.

Nominations Sought for 2013 National MED Week Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2013

Contact: MBDA Public Affairs
Email: abetancourt@mbda.gov

Program Recognizing Outstanding Achievements of Minority Entrepreneurs, Individuals, Organizations

Puerto Rican Maker of Military Uniforms, Gear Named National Minority Small Business Person of the Year at MED Week 2011

WASHINGTON – Oscar Quiles, president of Pentaq Manufacturing Corp., of Sabana Grande, PR, was named the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration during the closing awards ceremony Friday night for the 29th annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week conference in Washington, D.C.

SBA Signs Agreement with Department of Commerce and Republic of Turkey

WASHINGTON – Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, today signed a tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) and the Republic of Turkey’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB) to encourage collaboration to assist small and medium-sized businesses with international trade opportunities.

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