PEARLAND, TX (June 17, 2024) – On Monday, June 17, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, Eric Morrissette, traveled to Pearland, Texas to meet with Congressman Al Green (TX-09) and Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), and talk with constituents about the local minority business enterprise (MBE) eco-system, the needs of the LGBTQ+ business community, and resources Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) provides to both support and strengthen them.
“Among our priorities at MBDA is to promote an ecosystem in which minority business enterprises (MBEs) can flourish. Connecting and building bridges to expand our network in Houston will help strengthen and make it a uniting force for MBEs.” said Acting Under Secretary Morrissette. “I look forward to continuing to support our current centers and programs in Texas and working to expand our network to advance this important work.”
During the event, co-hosted by Rep. Al Green and the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, Acting Under Secretary Morrissette heard about the successes and challenges entrepreneurs face when looking to access capital and procurement opportunities in Pearland and global trade in Houston and the greater state. He was joined by members of the Houston MBDA Business Center, which provides services to MBEs in the greater metropolitan area.
“This is the third year since I sponsored the Minority Business Development Act of 2021, which codified into law the MBDA. Since then, the agency’s efforts have been instrumental in empowering a good many minority-owned disadvantaged businesses across our nation.” said Congressman Green. “It is imperative that we continue to address the wealth gap experienced by minority communities by uplifting disadvantaged minority businesses and creating economic opportunities within the communities that need them most.”
The City of Pearland is a full-service municipal government located along the Gulf Coast region within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area of Texas. With more than 100,000 residents, Pearland is rated the fastest-growing community in the Houston region and the second-fastest in Texas. The city is noted for its diversity, with minorities forming the majority of the city’s population.
“I was glad to join LGBTQ+ leaders in welcoming Acting Under Secretary Morrissette to Texas’ Seventh Congressional District. Small businesses are essential pillars of our community and drivers of our economy, and the MBDA is such an important partner in the work,” said Congresswoman Fletcher. “I look forward to continuing to support policies that strengthen our community, our businesses, and our economy.”
About the U.S. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA):
The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises (MBEs). For more than 50 years, MBDA’s programs and services have better equipped MBEs to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues, and expand regionally, nationally, and internationally.
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