Infrastructure Insights

Spotlight: Federal Implementation

Prior to passage of this bill, the Minority Business Development Agency was not a permanent entity in the federal government. That is now rectified. This action allows the agency to increase their programs and outreach to the nation’s more than 9 million minority-owned businesses.

Specifically, the Act:

  • Creates a presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development to lead the agency.
  • Increases the MBDA’s grant-making capacity to partner with community and national nonprofits engaged in private and public sector development as well as research.
  • Mandates the creation of the Parren J. Mitchel Entrepreneurship Education Grants Program to cultivate the next generation of minority entrepreneurs on the campuses HBCUs and MSIs across the Nation.
  • Creates a council to advise the Under Secretary on supporting MBEs; and
  • Authorizes the under secretary to coordinate federal MBE programs.
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