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 includes collaboration in building public awareness and educational support, identifying areas of overlap between the two entities to promote global competitiveness for minority businesses, and Facilitation is sought between MBDA and the Port of Seattle to provide engagement and partnership opportunities between the two entities. Initiatives for ports.
“We look forward to working closely with the Port of Seattle to identify opportunities in the aviation and port industries, supporting outreach efforts and leveraging our network of business centers.” 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 works to level the playing field for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses affected by institutionalized disparities in port practices and policies. is. Through this initiative, we provide training and development to assist companies seeking to do business with ports with contract diversity.
“This MOU marks 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 extremely proud of this MOU as we establish a unique partnership and leverage our best outreach assets to enhance business opportunities throughout the Puget Sound region,” said Minority Business Development Agency President and CEO David Schneider. Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho“In addition, we will build on our respective engagement expertise to establish a collaborative approach that will better position us to provide businesses of all kinds with additional tools to scale their growth.”
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 (Washington State District 6)“This Memorandum of Understanding is a positive step towards ensuring people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to grow and compete in the world while contributing to their local economies. Creating more economic opportunities and promoting inclusion. By promoting and increasing awareness of available resources, 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
