The Office of the Chief Counsel for the Minority Business Development Agency (OCC-MBDA) provides programmatic legal and policy advice to the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which is dedicated to promoting the growth and global competitiveness of Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) in order to unlock the country’s full economic potential. OCC-MBDA provides legal and strategic counseling to MBDA’s Under Secretary and all MBDA components with respect to MBDA’s powers, duties, and responsibilities, as well as its relationship with the Department of Commerce, other federal government agencies, and external stakeholders. OCC-MBDA further advises MBDA on constitutional, administrative, and legislative matters potentially affecting the MBE community and MBDA programs.  

MBDA was originally established in 1971 by Executive Order 11625, and on November 15, 2021, the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 authorized MBDA in statute. The Act codified select existing programs, added new authorities and roles, and expanded the scope and scale of MBDA’s services. MBDA’s programs and initiatives provide technical assistance to MBEs, so they have the knowledge and tools to gain greater access to capital, expand contracting opportunities, and enter new markets. MBDA maintains an active portfolio of grants and cooperative agreements to fund entities that operate technical assistance centers located throughout the United States, and OCC-MBDA provides programmatic legal advice pertaining to such awards. OCC-MBDA's legal program is carried out subject to the overall authority of the Department's General Counsel.