Minority Business Development Agency,
U.S. Department of Commerce
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal agency created to specifically foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America. The agency’s mission is to actively promote the growth and competitiveness of large, medium, and small minority business enterprises (MBEs).
MBDA operates the Minority Business Development Center (MBDC) Program and the Native American Business Development Center (NABDC) Program. These programs provide direct business consultÂing services to minority entrepreneurs.
The centers provide the following services: access to markets; access to capital, management, and technical assistance; and education and training. To accomplish this goal, the centers provide entrepreneurial assessments and general business consulting; marketing assistance; loan packaging and otherfinancial conÂsulting; identification of and assistance in obtaining procurement opportunities; education and training; and various other entrepreneurial consulting services.
MBDA currently operÂates 26 MBDCs and 8 NABDCs throughout the United States. MBDA works closely with the International Trade Administration on innovative ways to engage U.S. minority firms in the international business arena. Seminars inform minority firms of the tremendous opportuniÂties available through international trade. MBDA supports several minority trade missions and matchmaker programs and notifies the minority community about all Department of Commerce trade missions.
Contact: To learn more about MBDA, contact Donald Powers at (202) 482-7982, fax (202) 482-3473, e-mail dpowers@mbda.gov, or visit www.mbda.gov