Minority Business Development Agency January 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) publishes this notice to announce that it will allow for a third year of bonus funding, on a non-competitive basis, to the Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) (formally known as the Houston Minority Business Development Center (MBDC)), as originally funded under the Federal Register notice of August 28, 2000 (65 FR 52069). In its August 28, 2000 notice, MBDA solicited competitive applications from organizations to operate MBECs. The MBEC Program provides funding for general business assistance to minority business enterprises (MBEs) in various markets throughout the United States and stipulated that no award to operate a MBEC may be longer than five funding periods. MBDA changes this policy to allow for a third year of bonus funding for a total of six funding periods. This action is taken in light of the fact that the Houston MBEC (Grijalva and Allen) has had an ``excellent'' performance rating for five consecutive years. Furthermore, this action supports the Agency's efforts in rebuilding minority firms impacted by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. The Houston MBEC non-competitively received additional funding in the amount of $300,000, specifically to assist the minority firms impacted by Hurricane Katrina, as it was the closest proximity to the Gulf Coast and able to immediately respond to the need for additional services. This is in addition to the amount of $400,375 for the continuation of general business assistance to MBEs in program year 2006.