Good afternoon everyone. Thank you, Madam Vice President, for having me here today to join in this important conversation. Seeing all of the business owners here today, I am reminded of my own family’s story. I know firsthand that America’s road to prosperity runs through our minority business communities. My four-time great-grandparents, former slaves, built a successful horse and buggy taxi...

400+ entrepreneurs and small business owners will gather to understand opportunities within the CHIPs and Science Act, staying competitive in a digital world, and accessing capital 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...

From February 6-9, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with members of academia, public policy, government, community-led organizations, and the private sector -- including leaders of the construction, manufacturing, banking segments -- to discuss the outcome of December’s Puerto Rico Economic Dialogue. While in San Juan, the Deputy Secretary joined Puerto...

Treasury Department Announces Puerto Rico to Receive up to $109 Million to Promote Small Business Growth and Entrepreneurship through President Biden’s American Rescue Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Puerto Rico will receive up to $109 million in funding under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Treasury has now...

From February 6—10, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico to announce funding for Puerto Rico and address the importance of responding to the Economic Census, the official five-year measure of American business and the economy. Data provided by businesses fuels the most comprehensive economic statistics available, representing all U.S. industries and...

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded 12 grants as part of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC). Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson announced the awards at Coppin State University (MD), one of the...

On Friday, January 13, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves traveled to Chicago to highlight the recently announced Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program , a $93.5 million grant competition dedicated to helping minority, women, and other underserved entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. “Entrepreneurship is a pathway to the American Dream,” said Deputy...

As we welcome 2023, we reflect on some of the most popular stories, issues, and accomplishment from 2022. This past year, the Commerce Department remained at the forefront of many critical issues like no other time in history. Commerce played a central role in enacting President Biden's economic, trade, and innovation agenda to build a better America. One of the most important accomplishments of...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo issued the following statement on the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations for the U.S. Department of Commerce after President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 into law. “Once again, President Biden is showing that the United States government is capable of delivering on its promises to the American people and I congratulate...

The Capital Readiness Program grant competition marks the largest investment to support minority entrepreneurs and businesses from the Commerce Department 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 launch and scale their businesses. This program, administered by...