Minority Business Development Agency 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) publishes this notice to extend the date on which it plans to make its decision on a petition from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee requesting formal designation as a group eligible for MBDA's services from November 30, 2012 to March 1, 2013.

The Minority Business Development Administration publishes this notice to extend the date on which it plans to make its decision on a petition from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee requesting formal designation from August 30, 2012 to November 30, 2012.

On May 30, 2012, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments regarding a petition received on January 11, 2012 from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) requesting formal designation of Arab-Americans as a minority group that is socially or economically disadvantaged pursuant to 15 CFR part 1400. The Notice includes a thirty-day comment deadline of June 29, 2012, but also states that MBDA will make a decision on the petition no later than June 27, 2012. Due to the complexity of the subject matter, the Department finds that it is not practicable to complete an in depth review of the issues involved in the petition, give adequate consideration to all comments, and make a reasoned determination on the petition by June 27, 2012. Therefore, the Department has determined that it is necessary to extend the time in which it will make its decision on the petition until July 30, 2012. This extension will not prejudice the petitioner. The deadline for the comments on the petition remains unchanged, and continues to be June 29, 2012.

The National Advisory Council for Minority Business Enterprise (NACMBE) will hold its sixth meeting to discuss the work of the three subcommittees and deliberate on final recommendations to accelerate the growth of minority-owned businesses in fulfillment of the NACMBE's charter mandate. The agenda may change to accommodate Council business.

The Department of Commerce's (Department) Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) seeks to redesign its Native American Business Center (NABEC) program. The NABEC program is a key component of MBDA's business development assistance program and promotes the growth and competitiveness of eligible Native American and minority- owned businesses. As part of the NABEC program, businesses that are owned or controlled by the following persons or groups of persons are eligible to receive business assistance services: American Indians and Native Americans (including Alaska Natives, Alaska Native Corporations, Tribal entities, tribal universities and tribal governments), African Americans, Asian Indian Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Hasidic Jewish Americans, and Hispanic Americans. The MBDA will conduct two webinars, on March 13 and 15, 2012, to seek input and recommendations from tribal organizations and tribal governments on the proposed redesign of the NABEC program. MBDA has planned a more cohesive program involving collaboration among the NABECs and Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to achieve the same program goals, and to expand and promote export initiatives and international trade opportunities aligned with President Obama's National Export Initiative (NEI).