The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) inaugurated the Denver MBDA Business Center during an open house and reception held at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Building on June 28, 2011.
Denver Mayor Guillermo (Bill) V. Vidal, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), along with corporate supplier diversity representatives, chamber members, government agency representatives, and a broad array of minority business owners were in the audience of more than 140 people for the launch of the MBDA Business Center.
MBDA National Director David A. Hinson told the audience some of the reasons that Denver was selected for the new center, which included Forbes ranking Colorado as the number one state for labor supply and the fourth-best state overall for business last year.
Denver’s population is almost one-third minority, with Latina-owned businesses outpacing the growth of all minority-owned business enterprises. The city also has more than 5,000 MBEs that generate almost $7 billion and employ more than 40,000 people.
"Denver is in a good place, both economically and geographically,” Hinson said. “Centrally located in the state, it is easily reachable from either coast of the United States, and almost an equal distance from Canada and Mexico – two of the United States largest trading partners.”
Stan Sena, President & CEO of the Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council, was presented with a check for $1,216,795 for the five-year grant from MBDA to operate the Minority Business Center to foster the economic growth and global competitiveness of minority-owned businesses.
The center’s award is a part of a $7.8 million grant awarded to 27 MBDA Business Centers across the country.
The new center will be housed in the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce building at 1445 Market St.
“Our primary goal is to build minority-owned firms of size, scale and capacity to support job growth,” Hinson said. “This new center is charged with taking business owners to the next level.”
“Last year, MBDA assisted minority firms in securing nearly $4 billion in financing opportunities and contracts while creating 6,400 new jobs. We could not have done that without our network of business centers.”
