MBDA increasing push on policy development
Agency welcomes new talent to senior leadership team
The Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency’s mission is to promote the growth of minority owned businesses through the advancement of public and private sector programs, policy, and research. In the upcoming year, the Agency will continue to build on its programs and services with an expanded focus on policy.
“Policy plays a vital role in creating an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and addresses barriers such as access to capital and contracting,” said Alejandra Y. Castillo, MBDA National Director. “In February we convened minority business leaders and stakeholders at the MBDA Stakeholder Summit to create an informed policy agenda to strengthen the growth in size and scale of minority-owned businesses. To this end, we are engaging our senior leadership team to fully support this priority and other Agency initiatives.”
This week National Director Castillo announced the appointment of Justin G. Tanner to serve as Associate Director of MBDA’s Office of Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs to lead the Agency’s policy development initiatives. Tanner was previously a Senior Advisor to the Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development in Washington, DC. In his new position, Tanner will work to expand the Agency’s focus on policy development and advocacy.
The Agency also welcomes two Senior Advisors in the Office of the National Director, Van Freeman and Demetria Gallagher. Both will focus on national initiatives to create greater access to capital, contracts and markets, including the launch of the Agency’s Lab to Market program designed to link minority-owned businesses with federally funded research and development to promote commercialization opportunities through innovation, technology and inclusive entrepreneurship.
Contact: Dijon Rolle drolle@mbda.gov (202) 482-1375
About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
MBDA, www.mbda.gov, is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Our programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. Services are provided through a network of MBDA Business Centers. After 45 years of service, MBDA continues to be a dedicated strategic partner to all U.S. minority-owned businesses, committed to providing programs and services that build size, scale and capacity through access to capital, contracts and markets. Follow us on Twitter @usmbda.
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