The Manhattan MBDA Business Center hosted its official grand opening on November 18th at the Battery Gardens Restaurant in New York. More than 200 guests representing minority businesses, government, supplier diversity representatives of major corporations and community economic development organizations were in attendance.
Established in 1969, the MBDA is the only U.S. federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Some of the work it has done lately includes an investment of $13.4 million in grants for minority businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Operated by Business Outreach Center Network, Inc., the new Center will help to create and retain jobs by providing consulting services and facilitating access to contracts, capital, and market opportunities, and provide assistance to all minority-owned firms, but an emphasis on those with annual revenues of more than $1 million, and/or high growth firms in sectors such as construction, technology, health care, and the innovation economy.??
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Referring to the Statue of Liberty behind her as she announced the opening of the new business center, MBDA National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo explained that it reminded her of “the most important values of our country.” “This center will be yet another critical component in MBDA’s national network of business centers.? Not to mention, New York City has always been a mecca for entrepreneurs seeking greater opportunities,” Castillo said.?
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“We are so proud to join the MBDA network to help serve minority firms as an extension of our work here in New York, and to facilitate opportunities for growth and greater participation in the economic activity of our region,” said BOC Network Executive Director Nancy Carin.
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U.S. Small Business Administration District Director Beth Goldberg spoke directly to business owners in New York City, “You are the small business community of the financial capital of the world; 1.6 million small businesses strong, 5 million employees, $323 billion in payroll. That’s an extraordinary market for you to do your business in,” Goldberg said.
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Minority Business Enterprises in the New York area now have a dedicated team at the Manhattan MBDA Business Center responsible for facilitating transactions through referrals, business consulting, contract proposal preparation, and loan packaging, as well as matching minority firms with contract opportunities, prime contractors, and capital resources.
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The ceremony concluded with the BOC Network honoring exemplary entrepreneurs ranging from construction contractors and fashion design/manufacturers to local service businesses.
(CLICK HERE for an article about the MBDA’s announcement to provide a grant to the Philadelphia Enterprise Center.)
