Minority-Owned Manufacturing Firms Employ 342,000 Thousand Workers!

In the first of a series of new industry-based fact sheets released by MBDA, data reveals that minority-owned manufacturing firms employ 342,000 workers and grew faster than their non-minority counterparts in three areas—number of firms, employees and gross receipts.

This data supports MBDA’s increased focus on manufacturers over the past few years and we’ve seen results. Between FY 2009 and 2013, MBDA facilitated $2.8 billion in contracts for minority-owned manufacturing firms.  For the past two years, MBDA manufacturing clients have shown significant growth, becoming the top category for contracting revenue, a designation traditionally reserved for MBDA clients in the construction industry.

In an effort to continue this upward trend, MBDA awarded supplemental funding to four MBDA Business Centers to better assist clients in advanced manufacturing. Their specialty expertise will have a national scope while centrally located in Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cleveland – cities with a high population of minority-owned manufacturers.

The new manufacturing fact sheet presents data and statistics on minority-owned manufacturers and interesting factoids about the industry. For example, did you know that there are almost 82,000 minority manufacturers; and that 45% are Hispanic-owned? Learn more by visiting the MBDA website and viewing our MBE and Industry fact sheets. Also stay tuned for future fact sheet publications including Minority-Owned Information Firms, followed by Minority-Owned Construction Firms.

Download Manufacturing Fact Sheet