In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Don Graves hosted Latino elected officials, leaders, and stakeholder organizations to solicit their input on Commerce initiatives that will assist in promoting inclusive economic growth for Latino communities. Both events took place at the Commerce Department where both Raimondo and Graves addressed the...

The Capital Readiness Program represents the Commerce Department’s largest investment in support of underserved entrepreneurs. Today, Vice President Harris announced the recommended awardees for the MBDA Capital Readiness Program. The Capital Readiness Program is a $125 million technical assistance program to help underserved entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses. Once final awards are...

Hello everyone! I’m so honored to be here at the UnidosUS Annual Conference. The commitment shown by UnidosUS to achieve equity for all Americans, particularly those in the Latino community, cannot be overstated. This year’s theme, "The Power of US,” truly grounds our unity, collaboration, and shared progress across the impactful work everyone in this room does at all levels to create a fairer...

Thank you, Under Secretary Cravins, for that kind introduction. Hello everyone, and Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! It is such an honor to be here at MBDA’s National AA and NHPI Business Summit. This event is so important, and we are grateful to MBDA for putting all of this together. I’m especially pleased to be joined here today by Congresswoman Chu, as...

Good afternoon everyone. Thank you, Madam Vice President, for having me here today to join in this important conversation. Seeing all of the business owners here today, I am reminded of my own family’s story. I know firsthand that America’s road to prosperity runs through our minority business communities. My four-time great-grandparents, former slaves, built a successful horse and buggy taxi...

400+ entrepreneurs and small business owners will gather to understand opportunities within the CHIPs and Science Act, staying competitive in a digital world, and accessing capital The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by hosting the National AANHPI Business Summit...

From February 6-9, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with members of academia, public policy, government, community-led organizations, and the private sector -- including leaders of the construction, manufacturing, banking segments -- to discuss the outcome of December’s Puerto Rico Economic Dialogue. While in San Juan, the Deputy Secretary joined Puerto...

Treasury Department Announces Puerto Rico to Receive up to $109 Million to Promote Small Business Growth and Entrepreneurship through President Biden’s American Rescue Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Puerto Rico will receive up to $109 million in funding under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Treasury has now...

From February 6—10, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico to announce funding for Puerto Rico and address the importance of responding to the Economic Census, the official five-year measure of American business and the economy. Data provided by businesses fuels the most comprehensive economic statistics available, representing all U.S. industries and...

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today it has awarded 12 grants as part of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC). Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson announced the awards at Coppin State University (MD), one of the...