MED Week Awards Program Brochure

COVER PAGE
[Minority Business Development Agency LOGO]
National Minority Business Awards

Nomination Deadline
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Award recipients will be announced in September
Nomination form and instructions can be found at http://medweek.mbda.gov
The MBDA National Minority Business Awards presentation will take place at a ceremony to be
held during the 2018 National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week October 14-20,
2018.
Questions? Please contact:
Antavia Grimsley
MBDA National MED Week Program Coordinator
202-482-7458
agrimsley@mbda.gov

OVERVIEW
Since 1969, the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
has been instrumental in fostering the growth and global competitiveness of the Nation’s minorityowned businesses. From an estimated 300,000 minority-owned firms in 1969 to more than XXX
million today, MBDA has led the way in gaining public recognition of the achievements and
economic contributions of minority-owned firms. The MBDA National Minority Business Award is
the highest level of national recognition that a U.S. minority-owned firm can receive by the U.S.
Department of Commerce. These prestigious awards, bestowed during National Minority
Enterprise Development Week (MED Week), celebrate the outstanding achievements of minority
entrepreneurs, as well as the individuals and organizations that have demonstrated their
commitment to advancing minority business enterprises.
Sponsors of MBDA National Business Awards program include multinational corporations and we
look forward to your nomination in one of the categories below.
MINORITY FIRMS OF THE YEAR
• Minority Construction Firm of the Year
• Minority Export Firm of the Year
• Minority Manufacturing Firm of the Year
• Minority Health Products and Services Firm of the Year
• Minority Innovative Technology Firm of the Year
• Minority Marketing and Communications Firm of the Year
• Minority Professional Services Firm of the Year
• Minority Veteran-Owned Firm of the Year
• Minority ‘Under 30” Firm of the Year
• MBDA Minority Business Enterprise of the Year
CHAMPIONS OF MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
• Access to Capital Award
• Advocate of the Year
• Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award
INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION
• Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement
• Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award

The nomination form and instructions are accessible online at http://medweek.mbda.gov

Who is eligible for an award?
The Minority Firms of the Year Awards are open to minority business enterprises that are owned
or controlled by the following persons or group of persons: African American, American Indian,
Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian Indian and Hasidic Jews.
Eligible nominees include, but are not limited to: business owners, business executives, and
representatives of local, state and federal governments or nonprofit organizations, universities
and colleges and tribal entities. The Champions of Minority Business Development Awards,
Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award and Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement
are open to qualified individuals without regard to ethnicity.
Who may submit nominations for awards?
Nominations may be submitted by individuals or organizations in any category applicable, and
may be submitted for more than one award category. Self-nominations are also permitted. 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 Officials.
AWARD CATEGORIES AND EVALUATION CRITERION
Nominations should discuss each criterion referenced in the applicable award category
MINORITY OWNED FIRMS
Minority Construction Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority-owned firm that has achieved outstanding success in private or public
construction projects and has exhibited revenue and job growth over a sustained period of time.
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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-owned firm that has achieved outstanding success in penetrating
domestic and global markets.
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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-owned firm that has achieved success in employing new and innovative
techniques that led to a significant increase in market share, job growth and customer
satisfaction.
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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.

Minority Innovative Technology Firm of the year

The nomination form and instructions are accessible online at http://medweek.mbda.gov

Presented to a minority-owned firm that has achieved outstanding success in promoting the use
of technology in new and innovative ways, leading to greater efficiency and higher productivity.
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Describe innovative 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-owned firm that has improved the quality and delivery of healthcare
through innovation.
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•
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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.

Minority Marketing and Communication Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority-owned firm who has achieved notable success in the marketing and
communication industry by demonstrating creativity and impact.
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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 Professional Services Firm of the Year
Presented to a minority-owned firm that has achieved outstanding success in professional,
scientific and/or technical services.
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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.

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.
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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

MBDA 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.
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Specify length of time in business
Explain growth in revenue and number of employees

The nomination form and instructions are accessible online at http://medweek.mbda.gov

•
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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

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-owned businesses.
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Documented leadership and advocacy for access to capital
Specify dollar value of loans or other financial instruments provided to minority businesses
or individuals
Explain number of jobs created
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 minority business enterprise as an economic force in the global economy.
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Describe accomplishments related to the nominees’ advocacy efforts
Explain creativity in advocacy activities
Specify promotion of MBDA as a significant contributor to the success of MBEs 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-owned firms.
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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

INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION
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 development over the course of his/her life.
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Describe the role played by the nominee in the development of minority business
enterprise over the past 25 (or more) years
Describe the management or programmatic improvements the nominee achieved
Explain the nominee’s impact on job growth

The nomination form and instructions are accessible online at http://medweek.mbda.gov

•

Explain he nominee’s impact on his/her industry

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.
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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 nominee caused job growth
Explain the extent to which the nominee impacted the global economy

**Insert Photos from previous awards ceremony**

The nomination form and instructions are accessible online at http://medweek.mbda.gov

Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with, 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. The OMB Approved Number for this Collection is 0640-0025 and it expires on 2/28/2018.
The information is used by the MBDA to recognize outstanding minority business development activities of national importance and to determine
those applicants best meeting the preannounced criteria. No confidentiality for the information submitted is promised or provided except that which
is exempt under 5 U.S.C. 522(b)(4) as confidential business information.
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regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Minority
Business Development Agency, Office of Legislative, Education, and Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution
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The nomination form and instructions are accessible online at http://medweek.mbda.gov