Press Room November 2012

 Agency Will Honor 12 Business Leaders, Minority Business Advocates and Companies at the MED Week Conference

WASHINGTON (November 29, 2012) — The U.S. Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) today announced the 2012 National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week award winners. This year’s awards recognize the outstanding contributions of 12 private sector, non-profit entities and leaders in the categories of lifetime achievement, leadership, access to capital, exporting and manufacturing that have had a major impact in the growth of minority business enterprises. The winners will be honored on December 6, 2012, during the 30th Anniversary MED Week Conference.

The winners include a U.S. Congressman, presidents of manufacturing and service companies, leaders of non-profit training and advocacy groups, and successful private-sector manufacturing, exporting and finance concerns, all of whom have contributed significantly to minority business development, job creation and economic growth throughout the country.

November 24 is Small Business Saturday, a day set aside to support the small businesses that play a vital role in creating jobs and economic opportunities all across the country.

Karen G. Mills, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), released the following statement today encouraging people to support their communities by “shopping small” this holiday season:

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the fabric of our communities.  Over the last two decades, small and new businesses have been responsible for creating two out of every three net new jobs in the U.S., and today over half of all working Americans own or work for a small business.

Blank will advance initiatives to promote economic growth, trade and investment as a part of President Obama’s Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank will travel to South Africa and Kenya next week to advance key elements of the President’s “Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa,” that will promote economic growth, trade, and investment in the continent. As part of her trip, Acting Secretary Blank will officially launch the “Doing Business in Africa” campaign, an Administration initiative to help American businesses identify and seize opportunities that will further the United States’ commercial, trade, and investment relationship with Africa.

“As a successful, El Paso small business owner, I commend the El Paso MBDA Business Center for being such a valuable business resource to my company and to so many other local small businesses." Yolanda Diaz