Ohio's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center will officially open its doors to the public on Thursday, September 1. The Cleveland office is one of 27 MBDA centers located throughout the U.S.

"The center is important to have in Cleveland because it's an initiative to create jobs and growth in minority businesses in Cleveland," says Carmen West, the center's director. "We're adding to the economy."

The center, which initially opened in June, will focus on securing large public and private contracts and financing transactions, stimulating job creation, and facilitating entry to global markets for eligible minority-owned businesses.

"We will play a vital role for minority-owned businesses," says West.

Serving businesses throughout the state, the center is housed in the Greater Cleveland Partnership offices on Huron Road. It is funded with a $1.25 million grant over five years from the MBDA division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The money is part of $7.8 million allocated between the 27 centers.

The goal is to create more than 400 jobs and $145 million in contracts for minority-owned businesses in Cleveland over five years.

The center has six strategic partners: COSE, JumpStart, the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; the Northern Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council; Team NEO; and WECO Fund, Inc. It will be operated under the Commission for Economic Inclusion.

"Our cooperative mix makes us very unique and very powerful in the Cleveland market," says West.

The program will feature remarks by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Joseph D. Roman, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, and MBDA National Director David A. Hinson.

The grand opening is scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the hotel, with guided tours of the new offices immediately following the ceremony.


Source: Carmen West
Writer: Karin Connelly