MBDA National Minority Enterprise Awards

2024
National
MED Week
Awards

Call for Nominations

Nomination Deadline
August 15, 2024

Nominations for the 41st Annual
National Minority Enterprise
Development Week Awards
For over five decades, the U.S. Department of
Commerce Minority Business Development Agency
(MBDA) has played a pivotal role in nurturing the
expansion and global competitiveness of the nation’s
minority business enterprises. MBDA has been a
trailblazer in gaining public acknowledgment of the
achievements and economic contributions made by
minority-owned businesses, which now number over
10 million.
Since its establishment in 1983, the National Minority
Enterprise Development Week Awards, a pinnacle
recognition conferred by the U.S. Department of
Commerce upon minority business enterprises has
celebrated outstanding accomplishments. With over
300 awards presented, this accolade, bestowed
during National Minority Enterprise Development
(MED) Week, pays tribute to the exceptional
achievements of entrepreneurs and the unwavering
commitment of individuals and organizations
dedicated to fostering the growth of minority
business enterprises.

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

Three years after the enactment of the Minority
Business Development Act of 2021, solidifying the
permanence of the MBDA, it remains essential
to eliminate barriers, including limited access to
capital, networks, and resources, to ensure economic
prosperity for all Americans.
Entrepreneurship stands as a potent catalyst for wealth
creation, and each day, minority business enterprises
contribute significantly to our nation’s growth by
creating jobs, generating revenue, and stimulating local
economies. Through the National MED Week Awards,
we continue to empower communities by highlighting
individuals who drive the entrepreneurial process from
idea generation to developing economically viable
and resilient business models. We eagerly anticipate
acknowledging, recognizing, and encouraging the
well-deserved accomplishments and ingenuity
demonstrated within this community in 2024!

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Award Categories

Minority Business
Enterprises of the Year

Champions of Minority
Business Development

• Minority Construction Firm of the Year

• Access to Capital Award

• Minority Export Firm of the Year

• Advocate of the Year

• Minority Manufacturing Firm of the Year

• Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award

• Minority Health Products and Services Firm
of the Year
• Minority Emerging Technology and
Industries Firm of the Year
• Minority Marketing and Communications
Firm of the Year
• Minority E-Commerce Firm of the Year

Individual Recognition
• Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime
Achievement
• Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award

• Minority Veteran-Owned Firm of the Year
• Robert J. Brown Minority Business Enterprise
of the Year

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

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Eligibility & Nominations

Who is eligible for
an award?

Who may submit
nominations for awards?

The Minority Firms of the Year Awards are open to
minority business enterprises, as defined by the
Minority Business Development Act of 2021.

Nominations may be submitted by individuals or
organizations in any category applicable and may be
submitted for more than one award category. Selfnominations are also permitted.

The Champions of Minority Business Development
Awards eligible nominees include, but are not
limited, to business owners, business executives, and
representatives of local, state and federal governments
or nonprofit organizations, universities, colleges, and
tribal entities.

In addition, nominations may be submitted by MBDA
staff or by representatives of MBDA Business Centers.
However, nominations may not be submitted by
members of the headquarters review panels or by
MBDA Selecting O�icials.

The Individual Recognition Awards are open to
all qualified.

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

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Award Categories &
Evaluation Criteria
Nominations should discuss each criterion referenced in the applicable award category below:

Minority Business Enterprises
Minority Construction Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise that has achieved outstanding success in private or public construction
projects and has exhibited revenue and job growth over a sustained period of time.
• Describe the size, scale and types of construction projects.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

Minority Export Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise that has achieved outstanding success in penetrating domestic and
global markets.
• Describe how the nominee has penetrated global and domestic markets.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, or competitive.
• Describe economic impact, environmental or societal contributions.

Minority Manufacturing Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise that has achieved success in employing new and innovative techniques
that led to a significant increase in market share, job growth and customer satisfaction.
• Describe techniques utilized and the results achieved.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

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Minority Emerging Technology and Industries Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise that has achieved outstanding success in high-growth industries through
the utilization or the delivery of services based on new technologies.
• Describe new techniques utilized and the results achieved.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

Minority Health Products and Services Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise that has improved the quality and delivery of healthcare
through innovation.
• Describe the improvements and/or innovations to the quality and delivery of healthcare.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

Minority Marketing and Communication Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise who has achieved notable success in the marketing and communication
industry by demonstrating creativity and impact.
• Describe creative approaches utilized in campaigns and new marketing tools developed.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

Minority E-Commerce Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise that has achieved outstanding success by harnessing the power of the
internet to offer goods and services to other businesses and/or directly to the consumer.
• Describe the firm’s creative approaches to offering and selling goods in the digital space.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

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Minority Veteran-Owned Firm of the Year
Presented to a veteran-owned minority business enterprise that has had achieve success in their industry that has led
to a significant increase in job growth and customer satisfaction.
• Describe techniques utilized and the results achieved.
• Explain revenue growth and number of jobs created/retained over a period of time.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

Robert J. Brown Minority Business Enterprise of the Year
Presented to a minority business enterprise that has exceeded industry standards and achieved phenomenal business
success leading to significant growth and job creation, while showing a commitment to social responsibility and strong
community involvement.
• Specify length of time in business.
• Explain growth in revenue and number of employees.
• Explain current and past financial performance.
• Describe innovative techniques utilized and the results achieved.
• Specify challenges overcome – Technical, commercial, competitive or societal.
• Describe economic, environmental or societal contributions.

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

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Champions of Minority Business Development
Access to Capital Award
Presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the financial community by
providing traditional and/or alternative working or investment capital to minority business enterprises.
• Documented leadership and advocacy for access to capital.
• Specify dollar value of loans or other financial instruments provided to minority business enterprises
or individuals.
• Highlight unique strategies, tools, and/or approaches to increase money invested in minority
business enterprises.
• Describe projects implemented as a result of funding.

Advocate of the Year
Presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated significant accomplishment in advocating for minority
business enterprise as an economic force in the global economy.
• Describe accomplishments related to the nominees’ advocacy efforts.
• Highlight specific obstacles, challenges, or issues championed by the advocate.
• Specify promotion of MBDA as a significant contributor to the success of minority business enterprises in the global
marketplace.
• Explain results of the nominees’ advocacy efforts.

Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award
Presented to the organization or individual whose business practices have had a significant impact on the growth and
development of minority business enterprises.
• Specify increased dollar values of purchases from minority business enterprises over the past five (or more) years.
• Explain number and types of companies in the nominee’s supply chain.
• Explain number of jobs created.
• Describe innovative strategies or notable improvements to the supplier diversity program.

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

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Individual Recognitions
Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement celebrates high standards of excellence, dedication and
accomplishment over a sustained period of time. The award is granted to an individual who has played an integral role
in the creative, technical or professional progress of minority business enterprise development over the course of his/
her life.
• Describe the role played by the nominee in the development of minority business enterprise over the past 25 (or
more) years.
• Describe the organization or programmatic improvements the nominee achieved.
• Explain the nominee’s impact on his/her industry.

Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award
The Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award is inspired by the outstanding leadership of the late U.S. Secretary of
Commerce, Ronald H. Brown. As the first African-American to serve as the Department’s Secretary, he was a staunch
advocate for diversity and business expansion. The Award recognizes individuals who have achieved significant results
by promoting diversity, expanding minority business enterprise and demonstrating exceptional leadership in the public
or private sector.
• Describe the innovations and improvements initiated by the nominee and the results.
• Describe the exceptional and effective leadership demonstrated by the nominee.
• Explain the extent to which the nominee impacted the global economy.

Public Burden Statement
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control
Number (0640-0025). Public reporting burden for this report is estimated to average no extra burden per response. This burden
includes time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate to:
Minority Business Development Agency
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
The OMB Control Number for this collection is 0640-0025; Expiration Date: XX/XX/2027

2024 National MED Week Awards Call for Nominations

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