The Minority Enterprise Awards ceremony was held on September 9, 2019. The sold-out event included Daymond John, The People’s Shark and Gary “Litefoot” Davis, the ceromony emcee. The Minority Enterprise Award is the highest level of national recognition that a U.S. minority-owned firm can receive from the Department of Commerce. These prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of...

Enterprising Women of Color Forum, in partnership with Essence magazine, was held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., The forum served to empower women entrepreneurs with resources and candid advice for success. The half-day event included an interactive workshop facilitated by Irene Walker, the program manager at Facebook’s Level Up, a panel discussion moderated by...

Washington, D.C. (September 26, 2019) – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) announced grant awards totaling $3.6 million to support business development in Indian Country. The investment represents an historic level of 17% of all the MBDA grants awarded this year. “Under the guidance of President Donald J. Trump, economies are booming across the...

"I am proud of MBDA’s success over the past 50 years, but with changing demographics and the rise of artificial intelligence, MBDA will have to take on a bigger role to help minority enterprises win the future" Henry Childs National Director of the MBDA Relive the MED Week experience with videos and photos of these inspiring events! Minority Enterprise Awards Global Markets Roundtable Growth...

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency is proud to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 - October 15. In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week, observed during the week that included Sept. 15 and...

Washington, D.C. (September 12, 2019) – The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), in collaboration with the Milken Institute, convened prominent scholars, economists and business leaders to combine research efforts in support of the growth and expansion of minority business enterprises (MBEs). Fifty years after the inception of the MBDA, it is estimated there...

During Minority Enterprise Development Week, our Nation celebrates the success of minority-owned businesses and recognizes their significant role in strengthening our country’s robust economy. The contributions of these enterprises ensure American companies remain world leaders in the global marketplace. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which...

WASHINGTON, DC (September 4, 2019) — Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) proudly announces recipients of the 2019 Minority Enterprise Awards. The Minority Enterprise Award is the highest level of national recognition that a U.S. minority-owned firm can receive from the Department of Commerce. These prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding...

Minority Business Development Agency Henry Childs II is the national director of the Minority Business Development Agency. His main focus is to widen the MBDA’s influence on minority-owned businesses and global markets. To support this endeavor, the MBDA has established the Opportunity Zone Summits, Enterprising Women of Color Initiative, and most recently, The InVision Tour. What type of mindset...

Henry Childs II is the national director of the Minority Business Development Agency, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that promotes the growth of minority-owned businesses through the mobilization and advancement of public and private sector programs, policy and research. Childs spoke with MMG about the challenges faced by minority-owned businesses and new initiatives underway at MBDA...

2019_aapi_summit_agenda_print.pdf

Written Testimony by Mr. Henry Childs II National Director Minority Business Development Agency United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs April 10, 2019 Introduction Thank you Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Udall, and members of the Committee for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to appear before you today to testify on behalf of the Minority Business Development...

An over-capacity crowd of more than 700 minority business owners and leaders gathered Tuesday, March 5, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The celebration was held at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Herbert C. Hoover Building in Washington, D.C. An additional 900 people tuned into the livestream of the program. Opening the program was Secretary...

51 years ago, today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated – murdered! 50 years ago, today, MBDA was born. In the next 50 years, we will be celebrating on the moon! Now I know a lot of you may be expecting a commemorative speech. Looking back over the last 50 years. But that’s not me. The question the market wants to know is who is MBDA and why should we care? To me, MBDA is about helping...

On Tuesday, the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) celebrates its 50th anniversary. When President Nixon signed the executive order creating MBDA, the nation’s minority population was less than 40 million. Nixon recognized that, although minority-owned businesses then were only 4 percent of America’s businesses, empowering the entrepreneurial spirit of minority...