Blog

Annual funding for the government expired on September 30. The Administration strongly believed that a lapse in funding should not occur. The Department is prepared for a lapse in funding that would necessitate a significant reduction in operations. Prior to a potential lapse in funding, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) required the Department to submit a...

Dates: September 22-October 3, 2013

Locations: Washington, DC; Richmond and Norfolk, VA; Indianapolis, IN; Joliet and Chicago, IL

U.S. Trade and Development Agency is sponsoring a reverse trade mission (RTM) to the United States for a delegation of public and private sector representatives from Southern...

Hispanic-owned firms contribute greatly to U.S. exports, which are a critical component of our Nation’s economic growth. The percentage of Hispanic American-owned firms that export (7.2 percent) is more than double that of all U.S. firms. Hispanic American-owned firms export an average of $2.3 million in annual receipts, compared to their non-exporting counterparts, who average $124,000.

As we observe...

Last month the United States Government partnered with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to host the 2013 U.S.—Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in one of East Africa’s largest and most vibrant cities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Senior U.S. Government officials and business leaders, along with their counterparts from African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)-eligible...

There are various resources that allow you to assess your company’s readiness to export. These tools help you to understand what constitutes export readiness for a firm, and how your company can move toward that goal:

Export.gov’s “Are You Export Ready?” Questionnaire - This questionnaire...

There are plenty of questions for a small business looking to start exporting. What markets are best suited for your company’s products? How can you compete with larger companies? How can you get paid for your products? What kind of research do you need to do to begin exporting?

Luckily, you can get answers to all these questions and...

Each year, since 1955, Fortune Magazine ranks the 500 largest corporations in the United States.  Corporations that are part of the Fortune 500, purchase goods and services from other businesses which in turn support thousands of other companies and millions of jobs across the nation.  Becoming a supplier to a major corporation is a growth strategy that many minority-owned firms incorporate into their...

Fifty years ago, on August 28, 1963, on the 100^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Martin Luther King Jr. led a “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” that culminated at the Lincoln Memorial.  A quarter of a million traveled to Washington, DC, to hear what Dr. King had to say.  Millions more listened on television and radio.

The day began with Marian Anderson, one of the greatest singers of the 20^th century, singing the National Anthem. The day ended with Dr. King delivering one of the greatest speeches ever given in American history.

It...

The Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration recently released U.S. metropolitan area trade data for 2012, which shows that overall exports are up for the third consecutive year. Specifically, exports are up in 31 of the top 50 metropolitan areas, 29 of which reached record exports between 2011 and 2012. Among the top 25, Washington, DC, recorded the highest growth between 2011 and 2012, increasing exports by nearly 43 percent. Exports from...

With the President’s recent trip to Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa, as well as the announcement of two new trade initiatives, the spotlight is on Africa – and with good reason.

While speaking at the Business...

Since I was confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, I’ve been meeting with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and foreign leaders to let them know that America is “open for business.” The United States is one of the most desirable places to do business; our $16 trillion economy, with its productive workforce and diverse consumer base, could not do what it does without domestic as well as foreign investment. Yesterday, I...

The Small Business Administration and Small Business Majority are launching the Affordable Care Act 101 weekly webinar series. Each week, SBA representatives will walk through the key pieces of the law so that small business owners can understand the facts and make the most informed decisions they can about providing health insurance for their employees.

This free series will focus on both federal and state...

After hitting new highs in 2011, exports from U.S. metropolitan areas continued to increase in 2012, with 170 of the 370 metro areas with available data ...

What is the IBP?

The International Buyer Program (IBP) is a joint government-industry effort designed to increase U.S. export sales by promoting international attendance at major U.S. industry exhibitions. Through the IBP, the Department of Commerce recognizes leading U.S. trade shows in industries with high export potential.

Events are selected annually through a collegial selection process that...

About 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, in the largest city on the West Coast, is MBDA’s Los Angles Business Center.

To meet the diverse needs of their clients, the Los Angeles MBDA Business Center staffs two offices. One office is located on the campus of the University of Southern California and allows clients to benefit from the resources of academia. While the second office, located at city hall in...

Jorge Lozano said he arrived in America from his native Bolivia when he was 10 years old with a suitcase full of clothes and pocket full of dreams. Today, 50 years later, Lozano is the President and CEO of Condortech Services, Inc., an integrated security solutions company that protects over $1.8 billion in assets in Washington, D.C.

In his 2013 State of the Union speech, President Obama outlined his vision for...

The numbers are in and the report is out! Last month, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) released its Annual Performance Report for Fiscal Year 2012 and we are proud to report that FY 2012 was another successful year for the Minority Business Development Agency, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and most importantly for the American business owners that we serve. In FY 2012, MBDA helped create and...

Why Consider Exporting?

• Access. Today, improvements in trade finance, the Internet, and trade agreements have dramatically increased access to markets worldwide.

• Demand. More than 70 percent of the world’s purchasing power is located outside of the United States. Your competitors are increasing their global market share, and you can too.

• Profitability. Exporting can be profitable for businesses of all sizes. On average, sales grow faster, more jobs are created, and employees earn more

...

The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is a new program that simplifies the process of buying health insurance for your small business.

The SHOP Marketplace gives you choice and control over health costs.

• You control the coverage you offer and how much you pay toward employee premiums.

• You can compare health plans online on an apples-to-apples basis, which

...

Global investors are “rediscovering” the United States.

This week the consulting firm A.T. Kearney published its annual...

President Obama recently said sub-Saharan Africa is poised to be the world’s next greatest economic success story, with U.S. exports to Africa topping $21 billion a year. In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to six of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world, and enormous opportunities exist for U.S. companies to not only do well – but to do good.

That’s why then-Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank...

Celebrated since 1963, National Small Business Week recognizes the contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. Entrepreneurship is an integral part of our country’s DNA and increasing numbers of minorities are becoming entrepreneurs. However, starting a business can be challenging in that the majority of small- to medium-sized businesses often lack access and visibility to helpful resources....

On Wednesday, May 8, 2013, Houston City Council approved Mayor Annise Parker’s recommended enhancements to the city’s 30-year-old goal-oriented Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) contracting program. This action reinstated women-owned businesses into the program, and increased the participation of Minority and Women-owned business from 22 percent to 34 percent in the citywide construction goal. ...

Nestled on the banks of the Motor City’s Detroit River where approximately one mile of water separates America with Canada, the Detroit MBDA Center uses the city’s international urban flair to expand its clients’ business reach across the globe, including to South Korea and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

To facilitate exporting opportunities with our free-trade partner South Korea, the Detroit MBDA Business Center is drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA). According to KOIMA, an...