Content tagged with Press Releases

ATLANTA (April 29, 2024) – Eric Morrissette, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development traveled to Atlanta to kick off the first stop of Vice President Kamala Harris’ nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour with a panel discussion at the Georgia International Convention Center.   The conversation was focused on programs and initiatives created to uplift economic...

WASHINGTON, DC, March 8, 2024 – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) hosted the Divine Nine Sororities, The National Council of Negro Women, The Links Incorporated, The Black Women’s Agenda, and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women at the White House. During this event, MBDA memorialized Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with each...

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) announced the formation of the Minority Business Enterprise Advisory Council. As stated in The Minority Business Development Act of 2021, this council will advise and assist MBDA in their mission to promote the growth of minority owned businesses.

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) officially announced Wendy D. Anderson as its permanent Chief of Staff. Anderson previously served as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Val Demings (FL-10) and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-9) where she counseled both members on critical legislation, oversaw all strategic policy implementation, managed staff, and...

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) proudly announces recipients of the 2023 Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards. The National MED Week Awards are the highest level of national recognition that a U.S. minority business enterprise can receive from the Department of Commerce. These prestigious awards celebrate the...

View Fact Sheet WASHINGTON, D.C., – Today, Vice President Harris announced the recommended awardees for the MBDA Capital Readiness Program. The Capital Readiness Program is a $125 million technical assistance program to help underserved entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. Once final awards are made, the awardees will launch and operate business incubators or accelerators designed to...

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by hosting the National AANHPI Business Summit on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 9:00am to 1:00pm ET in Washington D.C. During this business summit, MBDA and the National Asian/Pacific Islander...

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) announced the appointment of Jessica G. Cavazos as Deputy Under Secretary for Minority Business Development. Under Secretary Donald R. Cravins, Jr. released the following statement: “Ms. Cavazos’ appointment as the first-ever Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority...

WASHINGTON DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce launched the Capital Readiness Program grant competition, which dedicates $93.5 million to help minority and other underserved entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. This program, administered by the Minority Business Development Agency, marks the largest program of its kind in the history of the Commerce Department. The Capital...

The U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has extended awards for the Access to Capital Innovative Finance Grant to two projects that will address historical barriers faced by minority business enterprises (MBEs). Through potentially disruptive, scalable solutions, these projects will leverage non-traditional financial resources (such as non-bank lenders, minority...

Additional funding from Biden Administration brings total up to $37 million to bolster services that will help minority-owned businesses expand and prosper across 34 states Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is extending an award for $4.72 million in federal funding to strengthen and expand its...

WASHINGTON (October 18, 2022) – The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has announced $1.75 million in grants to seven minority educational institutions as part of an expanded pilot program to support entrepreneurship for undergraduate students. These grantees join a cohort of four other Minority Colleges and Universities awarded in 2021. The Minority Colleges and Universities pilot...

Bill’s passage assigns an Under Secretary to oversee the Agency, mandates services to rural areas, provides authorities for a new Minority Business Development Grant program and the creation of partnerships with HBCU’s and minority-serving institutions. [Washington, DC | November 15, 2021] - Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of...

Federal funding will expand MBDA Business Centers to new locations in Alabama, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma and Virginia WASHINGTON (September 9, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is awarding $13.9 million in federal funding to 35 grant recipients as part of its MBDA Business Center Program...

Federal funding will support MBDA Specialty Centers with an emphasis on advanced manufacturing, exporting, and federal contracting. WASHINGTON (August 25, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) awarded $3.7 million in federal funding to nine (9) grant recipients to establish MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Centers, Export Centers, and a Federal...