Supporting the National Minority Business Development Agency and recognizing September 30th through October 4th, 2013 as Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development Week which provides critical information to foster the growth and competitiveness of the minority business community.

WHEREAS, Since 1983, the U.S. President has proclaimed a National MED (Minority Enterprise Development) Week observance to recognize the outstanding achievements of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and to honor those corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development. Annual regional conferences and activities are organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Government Contracting and Business Development; and

WHEREAS, The MED Week celebration was started locally in Philadelphia in 1984 to honor and promote minority owned businesses in the Philadelphia area. The organizers of the first Med Week activities were Barbara Daniel Cox, former Director of Mayor Wilson Goode's Women's Commission and Bilal Abdul Qayyum, Assistant to the Deputy Director of the City Commerce Department; and

WHEREAS, The support and development of minority businesses is an integral part of our nation's commitment to development, equality, and opportunity; strong economic engagement in minority communities creates and sustains jobs in communities which might otherwise have been overlooked; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses in Philadelphia and across the country are the cornerstone of economic growth, creating two-thirds of net new jobs in the country and compromising 50% of America's employment; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia MED Week Committee consists of corporations, local colleges and universities, local and regional government agencies and minority business owners that are committed to supporting opportunities for minority businesses; including the African American Chamber of Commerce, Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the City of Philadelphia Commerce Department and the MBDA Business Center Philadelphia, PA operated by The Enterprise Center; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia's MED Week has grown exponentially since its inception and this year includes a wide variety of sessions such as “A Conversation with Philadelphia's Business Leaders”, “Corporate Supplier Diversity”, “Exporting Opportunities”, and “Public Safety and Your Business ”; and

WHEREAS, 2013 Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards Reception will Celebrate 29 years of Minority Enterprise Development in the Philadelphia Region; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA that it hereby supports the National Minority Business Development Agency and recognizes September 30th through October 4th, 2013 as Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week which provides critical information, resources, opportunities and inspiration to foster the trajectory for growth and sustainability in the minority business community.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia MED Week Committee as evidence of the strong support and sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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