|
Created on November 25, 2015 |
For the first time, the United States is the official partner country for the 2016 Hannover Messe, the world’s largest trade fair for industrial technology, taking place April 25 to 29 in Hannover, Germany. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is leading the U.S. efforts to promote America’s world-class businesses, products, innovations, and investment climate for this year’s event, themed “Integrated Industry...
|
Created on November 20, 2015 |
Did you know that small businesses can enroll in SHOP Marketplace coverage from November 15 through December 15 without meeting a participation requirement? This one month window is available to small businesses each year. Outside of this window, in most states, small businesses generally must...
Eureka! You’ve made a great discovery or have a great idea for a business. The question that you have to ask yourself is can I move forward or has someone else beaten me to the proverbial punch?
Join the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a free three-day webinar series to help business owners, inventors, entrepreneurs, and start-ups understand the value of conducting proper prior patent and trademark searches.
What You Will Learn:
|
Created on November 13, 2015 |
On October 1 the Office of Small Business Utilization (OSBU) updated their web resources with a more diagnostic approach to helping companies understand the steps to working with GSA. www.GSA.gov/osbu takes the information that small businesses need and provides it in bite-sized pieces that are easy to process. The landing page provides a virtual door for each...
|
Created on November 5, 2015 |
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will be hosting a Business Briefing on Friday, November 13 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to introduce delegates from the Nigeria & Kenya Healthcare Technologies Reverse Trade Mission to U.S. healthcare companies.
The Business...
|
Created on November 5, 2015 |
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it will hold its annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation at its Washington D.C. headquarters on Nov. 19, 2015.
The morning session of the forum will feature panel discussions on exempt and registered offerings occurring after the passage of the JOBS Act. During the afternoon session, participants will work in groups to...
|
Created on November 5, 2015 |
Since the first Minority Finance Forum (MFF) a year ago, MBDA Business Centers have been building the only pipeline of its kind, mid-market minority-owned businesses looking for growth financing. After a year of monthly calls where Business Centers discussed challenges and opportunities related to access to capital, the second annual MFF at the Chicago Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) 2015 Midwest Capital...
|
Created on November 5, 2015 |
The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted final rules to permit companies to offer and sell securities through crowdfunding. The Commission also voted to propose amendments to existing Securities Act rules to facilitate intrastate and regional securities offerings. The new rules and proposed amendments are designed to assist smaller companies with capital formation and provide investors with additional...
|
Created on November 4, 2015 |
During my time in the booth at the 2015 Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week celebration, a colleague excitedly announced that a minority business owner was interested in signing an engagement contract with one of our Business Centers. I quickly arranged the table so that Kareem Cook, COO and Chief Marketing Officer for Naturade and the Miami Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center...
This year's National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week awards ceremony recognized Weeminuche Construction Authority (WCA) as Minority Construction Firm of the Year. The company was formed in 1985 by the Tribal Council of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, to create a Tribal-owned business enterprise that would offer employment and increase income for the Tribe. WCA is wholly owned by the Tribe and has functioned as a successful construction company under the same name since its inception.
WCA has extensive experience in heavy construction, including site preparation and...
|
Created on November 4, 2015 |
During the third annual celebration of National Veterans Small Business Week Nov. 2-6, the Small Business Administration will host 30 Boots to Business: Reboot entrepreneurship training events nationwide.
This coming year, the SBA will be able to present more than 100 Boots to Business: Reboot entrepreneurial training workshops. The other big news is that for the first time, the program will be available to...
| Created on November 3, 2015 |
It’s time to get covered. Open Enrollment for 2016 coverage started on November 1 and runs through January 31. HealthCare.gov is working for millions of Americans and it’s ready to help even more get covered. The deadline is December 15 to sign up for coverage that starts on January 1, 2016. If you want to start the New Year with coverage, you must sign up by December 15. For people who enroll after...
|
Created on October 30, 2015 |
The 2015 Minority Enterprise Development Week celebration was held in conjunction with the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council (NMSDC) Conference and Business Opportunity Exchange in San Diego, CA. In this new and innovative collaboration, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) offered several Powered by MBDA sessions that provided the latest information and trends on technology innovation, federal...
|
Created on October 30, 2015 |
How one MBE used government data to launch and grow a successful company.
Since his first full day in office, President Obama has prioritized making government more open and accountable, and has taken substantial steps to increase citizen participation, collaboration, and...
|
Created on October 28, 2015 |
Small businesses may not consider themselves targets for cyber attacks due to their small size or the perception that they don't have anything worth stealing.
However, small businesses have valuable information cyber criminals seek, such as employee and customer records, bank account information and access to the business's finances, and access to larger networks.
In some ways, small businesses are...
Minority businesses are playing an integral part in keeping the ‘Made in America’ product strong as the U.S. manufacturing sector continues to rise. Minority-owned manufacturing firms employ 342,000 workers and have recently grown faster than their non-minority counterparts in three areas— the number of firms, employees and gross receipts.
MBDA’s increased focus on manufacturers over the past few years is producing results. Just in the last three years, MBDA has facilitated more than $3.3 billion in contracts for minority-owned manufacturing firms, making manufacturing one of the...
|
Created on October 23, 2015 |
At this year's Minority Enterprise Development Week celebration in San Diego, CA I had an opportunity to speak with two MED Week award recipients who were recognized for their success in the professional services industry. Ideal System Solutions Inc., was awarded as Minority Business Enterprise of the Year, and Acro Service Corporation, was awarded as Minority Professional Services Firm of the Year...
|
Created on October 23, 2015 |
On October 14th, MBDA signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), an agency of the Government of the Republic of Korea that aims to make the most of South Korea’s expansive free trade network by supporting partnerships and cooperation between South Korean and foreign companies. For the signing of the MOI, MBDA was represented by National Director Alejandra Y....
|
Created on October 18, 2015 |
In less than 12 hours, over 7,000 entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profit entities will begin arriving in San Diego, CA for one of the year’s biggest networking events for minority business enterprises (MBEs). The Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week was created by a presidential proclamation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and honors some of the country’s most innovative and emergent minority...
|
Created on October 15, 2015 |
The Minority Business Development Agency applauds the stellar work that the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics has done during the last 25 years. We look forward to a robust partnership as we engage the growing Hispanic community in education excellence and entrepreneurial growth.
According to U.S. Census Bureau, there are roughly 54 million Hispanics/Latinos living in the United...
|
Created on October 13, 2015 |
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. In the spirit of this national observance The New York Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) held its 2015 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration yesterday and...
|
Created on October 7, 2015 |
A collaboration of Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) in Chicago & Department of Commerce's MBDA Business Centers
Providing access to capital and expertise to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to increase revenues and value.
This is a unique opportunity for MBDA Center clients to hear how smart money and expertise of private equity and investment banking can drive higher...
|
Created on October 7, 2015 |
The United States is the world’s best place to do business. Our country is home to a skilled and productive workforce, unmatched institutions of higher education, strong intellectual property protections, a commitment to innovation, an abundant and stable energy supply, and access to millions of global consumers through high-quality...
|
Created on September 29, 2015 |
What is it? The SBA Business Smart Toolkit is a ready-to-use workshop toolkit developed jointly by National Association for Government Guaranteed Lenders and SBA. The workshop lays the groundwork for helping new and aspiring entrepreneurs launch a business idea and understand the steps to building a business that is credit...
|
Created on September 25, 2015 |
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy has released a new issue brief entitled Peer-to-Peer Lending: A Financing Alternative for Small Businesses. Peer-to-peer lending (P2P) is an alternative...
|
Created on September 25, 2015 |
Have you heard about the Small Business Borrowers’ Bill of Rights? Want to learn more about this effort to address the emergence of predatory practices in the small business lending market? FIELD at the Aspen Institute and the...
|
Created on September 24, 2015 |
This October, America will take a major step to mitigate fraud and improve our financial security by migrating away from outdated credit and debit cards that transmit sensitive customer data using magnetic stripes. In 2015, it should not surprise us that a system using essentially the same technology as cassette tapes is especially vulnerable. That is why major credit card companies, lenders, and businesses are now...
|
Created on September 23, 2015 |
The Doing Business With GSA Video Series gives small businesses the opportunity to learn more about doing business with the federal government when it’s convenient for them.
...
|
Created on September 15, 2015 |
All over the country, manufacturing companies and other organizations are preparing to host an anticipated 400,000 people who want to experience American manufacturing up close and in person. On October 2, 2015, the fourth annual Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) will simultaneously increase public awareness about what and where manufacturing is, provide some...
|
Created on September 15, 2015 |
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently issued a final rule authorizing federal agencies to award sole-source contracts to women-owned small businesses eligible for the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program. Effective October 14, 2015,...
|
Created on September 11, 2015 |
As a small business owner, you know that being forced to close your doors, even for a day, is a costly setback. Typically, it’s often the seemingly isolated incident, not the mega-disaster, that causes power outages and the interconnected fallout affecting your clients, employees, and your bottom line.
Between 2003 and 2012, roughly 679 power outages, each affecting at least 50,000 customers, occurred due...
|
Created on September 10, 2015 |
Compete, Win, and Expand Your Business
Plan to attend this unprecedented national series of conferences designed to help U.S. businesses expand sales, penetrate new markets, and boost their bottom line through exports. Reserve your spot now at a Discover Global Markets event in 2015.
At Each Discover Global Markets Conference, you will:...
|
Created on September 10, 2015 |
Antwaun Griffin is the International Trade Administration’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for U.S. Operations.
Last week, I, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and my esteemed colleague Joann J. Hill, Chief, Office of Business Development for the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, participated in the ...
|
Created on September 4, 2015 |
Erin Aucar recently completed an internship with the International Trade Administration’s Office of the Western Hemisphere
Infrastructure is the buzzword for companies looking for new business opportunities in Latin America. The region is undergoing a major infrastructure build-out as economies and populations grow. Large scale public-private partnership projects in the transportation sector...
|
Created on September 3, 2015 |
There’s no one reason to explain why global consumers actively seek out U.S. goods and services, and no single explanation why global investors call the United States the best place in the world to invest.
A variety of factors keep American companies at the forefront of innovation, on top of advanced manufacturing, research, technology, and education. A stable currency, an educated workforce, and an...
|
Created on September 2, 2015 |
Join us on September 9, 2015 to learn about upcoming contracting opportunities in Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala from our U.S. Embassies in-country and from procurement & infrastructure experts in Washington D.C.
When: Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 / 7:30am - 5:00pm
Where: World Trade Center Denver; 2650 East 40th Avenue, Denver 80205
...
|
Created on September 2, 2015 |
A national manufacturing industry-specific event exclusively for minority business enterprise (MBE) manufacturers, supply chain decision makers, and stakeholders with a focus on innovation, technology, and business-to-business matchmaking has never existed until now!
Join the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center Network; Alejandra Y. Castillo, National Director of the U.S. Department...
|
Created on September 2, 2015 |
Is your organization prepared to communicate quickly and effectively with each other when a crisis hits? Did you know that nearly 70 percent of all U.S. businesses will lose power at one point in the next 12 months? Do you have a plan in place to keep your operations running? How will you rebuild your business if your employees are unable to...
|
Created on August 24, 2015 |
Mark your calendars for October 2, 2015, and get ready to celebrate all things manufacturing!
Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is an incredible opportunity to showcase the amazing work manufacturers do on a daily basis and to educate students, community members, media, and policymakers on how integral manufacturing is to the local, national and global economy.
As a manufacturer it’s your opportunity to:...
|
Created on August 18, 2015 |
My name is Sara G. Arellano. This summer, I joined many other students as a Department of Commerce intern. However, that may be where the similarities end, as I am considered a non-traditional student. After raising a family and working in the private sector, I decided to pursue a bachelor degree in Political Science at the University of California, Irvine. As a non-traditional, female student of Mexican descent my...
|
Created on August 17, 2015
|
Maxine Paul, CEO/CTO and Co-Founder of Pitch Love, an adaptive learning management system that teaches people through feedback and data, believes that innovation is essential to creating solutions that have a large impact on many different people. In order to continue progressing, we need to expose the future generation of...
|
Created on August 17, 2015 |
I’ll be blunt: we are about five weeks away from one of the most important trade missions in U.S. history.
Trade Winds—Africa will be the largest-ever U.S. government-led trade mission to the continent, and the U.S. Commercial Service will connect more than 100 companies to business opportunities in eight of the world’s...
|
Created on August 14, 2015 |
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency announces an opportunity for U.S. companies to meet and network with senior representatives from sub-Saharan Africa's agribusiness sector at a Business Briefing on Thursday, August 18 in Fargo, North Dakota. The Business Briefing is part of a USTDA-sponsored reverse trade mission to the United States for a delegation of key decision-makers from leading agribusinesses and...
|
Created on August 13, 2015 |
Lauren Rosario, Innovation Analyst at CodeMyMobile, attended the Commerce Department’s Open for Innovation event because she was interested to learn what established corporations and startups were doing to innovate their products and companies. Through events like Open for Innovation, she believes the government has the ability to attract a caliber of businesses that entrepreneurs would not have an opportunity to meet...
|
Created on August 13, 2015
|
Rod Robinson, Founder and CEO of ConnXus, Inc., a supplier relationship platform that manages all aspects of a corporation’s diversity and compliance programs, discusses the important role a government organization like MBDA plays in the success of an entrepreneur. He believes taking advantage of resources provided by MBDA,...
As the only Federal agency dedicated to the competitiveness of minority businesses, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) was honored to be invited as guests of the White House during the inaugural White House Demo Day hosted by President Barack Obama. The half-day event showcased over 90 minority and female entrepreneurs presenting their groundbreaking and innovative work.
MBDA National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo, National Deputy Director Albert Shen, Associate Director Efrain Gonzalez, along with MBDA intern Longyang Zhu, shared MBDA's client success stories with the...
|
Created on August 12, 2015
|
In her role as co-founder of LessonCast Learning, a learning platform that helps community members share best practices, Nicole Tucker-Smith keeps an idealistic mindset that helps her elevate her company to the next level. But she also recognizes the importance of balancing idealism with practicality. The Minority Business...
|
Created on August 11, 2015 |
As the Founder and CEO of Urban Co-Lab, Natalie Madeira Cofield and her team believe that if you empower communities through entrepreneurship and business engagement, you not only give people the opportunity to sustain themselves but also their communities. For more than 10 years, Natalie has been inspired by and influenced by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) as a champion for minority-owned businesses...
|
Created on August 11, 2015 |
The Virginia/DC District Export Council (DEC*) is organizing a Trade Mission to the Canary Islands, November 16-20, 2015. The purpose of this trade mission is to help U.S. firms in the energy, environmental technologies, industrial equipment and supplies, infrastructure and logistics sectors find partners from the Canary Islands and other regions of Spain to sell products and services in West Africa...
|
Created on August 11, 2015 |
Entrepreneurs are the driving force of our 21st century economy. They have the power to spur innovation, create jobs, stabilize communities, and inspire the next generation of inventors.
At the Department of Commerce, it is our goal to create the economic conditions that allow start-ups and entrepreneurs to succeed. While we meet this goal through a wide variety of Department initiatives, the Minority...