In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the U.S. Department of Commerce has recognized the extensive impact of Native American innovators, entrepreneurs, and minority business enterprises throughout the nation. As the only federal agency solely dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises, Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) offers a...

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo issued the following statement regarding the one year anniversary of the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): “A year ago today, President Joe Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a transformative investment that is already helping grow our economy and benefiting American...

Thank you, Under Secretary Cravins, for that introduction. We’re thrilled to have you on board as the Commerce Department’s first-ever Under Secretary for Minority Business Development. And I want to thank all of you − our minority business enterprises in particular – for being here for the first in-person MED Week Conference in two years. America has more than 9 million minority-owned firms that...

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...

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...

Thank you, Under Secretary Cravins, for that introduction. I’m thrilled to welcome you all to the Minority Business Development Agency’s National Minority Enterprise Development Week Conference. As a descendant of one of America’s first Black patent-holders, I know firsthand how important it is to support minority entrepreneurs, innovators, and businesses. America has nearly 10 million minority...

DOT Will Host Business Forum to Improve Access to Capital and Resources in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Today, the USDOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) announced partnerships to help small and disadvantaged businesses access the...

Cravins will lead the Minority Business Development Agency in its mission to support minority business enterprises across the country Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that Donald R. Cravins, Jr. will be the first-ever Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Under...

Good morning and thank you all for joining us today. I am so excited to be back in Detroit! Thank you, Mayor Duggan for welcoming us again to your beautiful city and thank you to Representative Lawrence and Senators Stabenow and Peters for all the work you do in Washington to deliver for the people of Michigan. I’d also like to thank Lt. Gov Gilchrist and Gov. Whitmer for working tirelessly with...

Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves traveled to Detroit, Michigan, today to support swift passage of the Bipartisan Innovation Act currently under negotiation between the House and Senate, which will make transformational investments in U.S. innovation and job growth. The bill will also advance the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing industry, support Michigan’s workers, and help grow...