SEATTLE, May 22, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — On Thursday, May 16, Eric Morissette, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, visited Seattle to announce a memorandum of understanding with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). (MOU) was signed. and the Port of Seattle.
The Memorandum of Understanding between MBDA and the Port of Seattle calls for collaboration in building public awareness and educational support, identifying areas of overlap between both entities to advance the global competitiveness of minority-represented businesses, and facilitating opportunities between the two entities for MBDA and the Port of Seattle's engagement and partnership efforts with the port.
“We look forward to working closely with the Port of Seattle to identify opportunities in the aviation and port industries, supporting advocacy efforts and leveraging our business center network.” Eric Morissette, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development; “At MBDA, we are confident that this cooperation will strengthen the country's airports, ports and waterways and, most importantly, give all businesses a chance to realize their potential.”
The port's Diversity in Contracts initiative aims to level the playing field for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses affected by disparities institutionalized in port practices and policies. Masu. Through this initiative, we provide diversity training and development in contracts to companies wishing to do business with the port.
“This memorandum of understanding is a major milestone for the Port of Seattle and the Minority Business Development Agency under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Commerce. We are very proud of this MOU as it leverages our outreach assets.” Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. “Additionally, we are better positioned to build on our respective engagement expertise to build on our collaborative approach and provide businesses of all types with additional tools to scale their growth.” To go.”
Through historic bipartisan infrastructure legislation, the Biden-Harris Administration is investing more than $40 billion in airports, ports, and waterways that are central to economic growth and opportunity, especially in the Pacific Northwest.
“As a long-time advocate for the growth of minority-owned businesses, I am pleased with this new partnership between the Minority Business Development Agency and the Port of Seattle,” he said. Congressman Derek Kilmer (6th District, Washington State). “This Memorandum of Understanding is a positive step towards ensuring people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to grow and compete globally while contributing to their local economies. Creating more economic opportunities and promoting inclusion By increasing awareness of the resources available to us, we are building a more vibrant economy in Washington state.”
The MOU signing is part of an extensive visit to the Seattle area by MBDA Deputy Secretary Morissette, who participated in a roundtable with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and the Seattle Capital We visited Ventures, a Readiness Program (CRP) award winning company, and had a talk. We spoke with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell about the impact access to capital has had on communities and local businesses.
About the U.S. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA):
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency is the only federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises (MBEs). For more than 50 years, MBDA's programs and services have better equipped MBEs to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenue, and expand regionally, nationally, and internationally. .
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CONTACT: Gabriel Cushing Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) mbdapublicaffairs@mbda.gov
