Federal Implementation Spotlight
Minority Business Development Agency
One of the only federal agencies focused exclusively on developing and advocating for minority-owned businesses, The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) was established by the Nixon administration way back in 1969 as a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its clients are U.S. minority business enterprises (MBEs) owned and operated by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hasidic Jews, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
Why it matters: The infrastructure bill’s MDBA amendment would expand the agency’s geographic reach by granting it resources to open regional offices and rural business centers.
Big picture: The Senate infrastructure bill’s MBDA amendment would also give financial assistance for both public and private sector development, provide additional grants to nonprofits that support minority business enterprises, and create a new program to promote entrepreneurship at HBCUs and MSIs.
Go deeper: MBDA invests in a national network of MBDA Business Centers, Specialty Centers, and Grantees. Their programs offer customized business development and industry-focused services to provide greater access to capital, contracts and markets.