Minority Enterprise Development Week
| National Minority Enterprise Development Week | |
|---|---|
 Official Logo for National MED Week 2017 | |
| Official name | National Minority Enterprise Development Week |
| Also called | National MED Week, MED Week |
| Observed by | United States |
| Type | National |
| Date | October |
| Frequency | Yearly |
National Minority Enterprise Development Week, also known as National MED Week, is a special week in the month of October, observed in the United States to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of the minority business enterprise community.
History
[edit]President Ronald Reagan first recognized National MED Week in 1983.[1] Each year, every President of the United States officially recognizes National MED Week through a Presidential Proclamation. The week is formally celebrated each year by the Minority Business Development Agency, a U.S. government agency housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce.[2]
Observation by President Trump
[edit]President Donald Trump became the first President of the United States to formally recognize minority-owned businesses in the Oval Office during National MED Week, when he welcomed winners of the National MED Week Awards on October 24, 2017.[3][4][5][6] On October 20, 2017, President Trump issued a proclamation to officially designate October 22 through October 28, 2017 as National Minority Enterprise Development Week.[7]
Awards
[edit]The Minority Business Development Agency holds an awards ceremony each year during National MED Week to recognize the contributions of minority-owned businesses in a variety of industry categories.[8][9] These awards include:
- Minority Business Enterprise of the Year
- Minority Construction Firm of the Year
- Minority Export Firm of the Year
- Minority Manufacturing Firm of the Year
- Minority Energy Firm of the Year
- Minority Technology Firm of the Year
- Minority Health Products and Services Firm of the Year
- Minority Marketing and Communications Firm of the Year
- Minority Professional Services Firm of the Year
- Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement
- Access to Capital Award
- Advocate of the Year Award
- Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award
- Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award
References
[edit]- ^ "Remarks at a White House Ceremony Marking the Observance of Minority Enterprise Development Week, President Reagan". Minority Business Development Agency.
- ^ "2017 National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week". Minority Business Development Agency.
- ^ "President Donald J. Trump Recognizes Minority-Owned Businesses". whitehouse.gov – via National Archives.
- ^ "Trump says minority-owned firms to succeed 'especially with Trump as your president'".
- ^ "Trump promises "jobs, jobs, jobs"".
- ^ "President Trump Delivers Remarks Minority Enterprise Development, Oct 24 2017". C-SPAN.org.
- ^ "Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2017". October 26, 2017.
- ^ "MBDA Announces 2017 National MED WEEK Award Winners". October 23, 2017.
- ^ "Minority Business Development Agency Seeking Nominations For 2017 MED Week Awards – US Veterans and Military Magazine – A US Veterans News Resource". March 31, 2017.