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

In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. Section 1512, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting competitive applications from organizations to operate a Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) (formerly Minority Business Development Center). This is not a grant program to help start a business. Applications submitted must be to operate a Minority Business Enterprise Center and to provide business consultation to eligible minority clients. Applications that do not meet these requirements will be rejected. The MBEC will provide services in the outlined geographic areas (refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this Notice). The MBEC Program requires MBEC staff to provide standardized business assistance services (as outlined in the Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement) to minority firms with $500,000 or more in annual revenues and/or ``rapid growth-potential'' minority businesses (``Strategic Growth Initiative'' or ``SGI'' firms) directly; to develop a network of strategic partnerships; and to provide strategic business consulting. This is a fee for service program, therefore, the MBEC is required to charge client fees. These requirements will be used to generate increased results with respect to financing and contracts awarded to minority-owned firms and thus, are a key component of this program. The MBEC Program will concentrate on serving SGI firms capable of generating significant employment and long-term economic growth. The MBEC Program shall leverage telecommunications technology, including the Internet, and a variety of online computer-based resources to dramatically increase the level of service that the MBEC can provide to minority-owned firms.