December 2011

MBDA.gov Newsletter

Greetings,

As we close out 2011 and prepare to enter 2012, one cannot help but reflect on the year that was and look ahead to the year to come. 2011 proved to be a productive and exciting year for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). MBDA took bold steps and explored new markets all in an effort to enhance our ability to empower the minority business community and create jobs for all Americans.

During 2011, MBDA committed nearly $14 million over five years to the MBDA Business Center program. The redesigned program eliminates geographic boundaries of the centers so they can assist minority entrepreneurs nationwide with access to markets, contracts and capital and offer strategic business consulting services. The Agency also expanded its footprint with new center locations in Denver, CO, Cleveland, OH, Boston, MA, and Minneapolis, MN and a satellite presence in Anchorage, AK.

As part of the nearly $14 million commitment, MBDA dedicated $1.75 million to open the Federal Procurement Center in Washington, DC with a sole focus of increasing the accessibility of the federal marketplace to minority-owned firms nationwide.

The National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise (NACMBE) met four times in 2011. The Council expects to release a report of recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce that will support the growth and expansion of minority-owned businesses in domestic and global markets.

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The U.S. Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) opened a grant competition to operate a MBDA Business Center in three distinct areas of the United States: Houston, TX, the State of Louisiana, and either the State of Mississippi or the State of Tennessee.

The primary objective of MBDA Business Centers is to provide strategic business consulting services to minority firms that will result in increased public and private sector contracting opportunities and capital investments, ultimately leading to the creation of new U.S. jobs.

On December 14, 2011 MBDA conducted a pre-application teleconference for the MBDA Business Center program competition. You can access a full playback of both the audio and visual components of the webinar.  The replay of the pre-application conference will be available through the close of the competition, January 17, 2012.

Download Pre Application Conference Presentation

On Friday, December 16, 2011 the MBDA Business Center located in Miami, Florida signed a signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with The U.S. Small Business Administration South Florida District Office. The SAM was signed by Marie R. Gill, Executive Director of the Miami MBDA Business Center and South Florida District Director Francisco “Pancho” A. Marrero on behalf of the SBA.

This formal partnership provides Miami MBDA Business Center clients with SBA's business development services and loan programs. Both SBA and MBDA are committed to partnering with other federal agencies and local organizations to provide valuable assistance and resources to create jobs impacting the American economy.

Visit the Miami MBDA Business Center web site.

• February 27 - March 1, 2012: Reservation Economic Summit 2012
  Register by December 31, 2011 and Save!

• March 25-30, 2012: U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson Infrastructure Trade Mission to India
  Apply by January 25, 2012

View Event Calendar

Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council will receive nearly $1.4 million during the next five years. They have established a goal of helping companies secure $85 million in new contracts awarded and $70 million in financial transactions. Sharing office space with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, the center will provide minority business owners with technical assistance, financing, access to contracts and matchmaking between minority businesses and buyers.

Spotlight on … is a new segment of MBDA.gov newsletter promoting the work of our nationwide network, center by center.

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