Kilmer Announces Grant to Create a Center in Tacoma to Assist Minority-Owned Businesses
TACOMA, WA – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) announced that Tacoma received a grant to create a new center to assist local minority-owned businesses. The U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) awarded Tacoma with funds for a MBDA Business Center. Representative Kilmer wrote a letter in support of the proposal.
The MBDA Business Center grant runs through March, 2021 and will help minority-owned businesses access capital and contracts, and expand market opportunities at home and abroad. The agency is dedicated to establishing the growth of minority-owned businesses in the United States.
“This is great news for Tacoma,” said Kilmer. “Minority-owned businesses are already making our area a more vibrant place. This new resources will help new businesses start up, help existing business expand, create more jobs and opportunities in our community. I’m excited to support this effort which will help Tacoma continue to be a place where every entrepreneur has a chance to be successful.”
“The City of Tacoma is very thankful for Representative Kilmer’s support in our application for the new MBDA Business Center,” Mayor Strickland said. “I strongly support the MBDA's focus on promoting exports, securing domestic public and private contracts, and job creation for eligible minority-owned businesses. The development of a MBDA Business Center Program will leverage the City's strategic partnerships with local agencies that offer financial assistance, training and research, and mentoring to create and expand small businesses.”
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