By 2044, the Nation’s prosperity will rely even more on minorities, the fastest growing segment of the population.  Entrepreneurship is a sure pathway to wealth creation and a thriving national economy.  Today, U.S. minority business enterprises represent 29% of all firms but only 11% have paid employees.  If MBEs were to obtain entrepreneurial parity, the U.S. economy would realize 13 million more jobs.

Building Prosperity for American Families

• Create a new generation of minority-owned firms with $100M in annual revenue to generate more jobs and help grow the U.S. economy through targeted programs and services.  

• Increase wealth creation that secures personal and family well-being reduces dependence on government resources and contributes to overall economic vitality.

• Cultivate successful minority-owned firms to foster economic activity in local communities and increase utilization of community benefits, such as transportation, infrastructure, housing, and quality education.

Expanding Economic Investments

• MBDA secures an annual average of $5.4B worth of contracts and financial investment in minority-owned firms, increasing the number of businesses with revenues that exceed $1M and create jobs for Americans.

• MBDA leverages public-private partnerships whereby the private sector contributes nearly $5.5M annually in non-federal investments to the national network of MBDA programs.

• Minority-owned businesses expand and diversify the tax base creating sustainable communities with a steady rate of economic growth.

Strengthening America’s Competitiveness 

• Position minority-owned firms to perform in high growth industries, emerging markets, and corporate supply chains.

• Reduce the trade deficit by leveraging the unique assets of minority-owned firms in global markets.

• Commission research reports and business analytics that demonstrates the minority business community as a vibrant and growing business sector.

Return on Investment: For every federal $1 spent MBDA gets one of the highest returns for business assistance in the Federal Government.  Over the past 10 years the Agency’s programs and services have secured more than $40B in contracts and capital, with accelerated performance averages and returns on investment.

Unique Challenges Faced by Minority Firms

Overall, minority-owned firms are smaller in size and scale than their non-minority counterparts.  The gap in combined gross receipts is 10:1, with only 2% of minority firms generating gross receipts of more than $1M and only 11% of minority-owned firms with paid employees.

Capital

• Minority firms are more likely to be denied loans at a rate nearly 3x’s higher than non-minority firms

• Minority firms are likely to pay higher interest rates; on average 7.8% while non-minority firms pay on average 6.4%

• Minority firms are less likely to receive loans; and when approved, receive lower loan amounts.

Contracts

• Minority firms secure a lower number and dollar amount of contracts in proportion to the number of available minority firms in the relevant market.

• Pervasive barriers cited in contracting disparities studies include:

  • access to capital;

  • large contract sizes;

  • network access; and

  • marketplace inequities.

MBDA – The Solution Provider

The only Federal Government agency solely dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprise.

MBDA:

• Provides access to market-based financing solutions.
• Facilitates teaming arrangements and mergers and acquisitions.
• Partners with private-sector Fortune 500 firms to provide access to global supply chains.
• Transitions minority 8(a) [SBA program] graduate firms to the private sector.
• Develops policy recommendations that address minority business inequities