BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, October 6, 2023) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott joined Sharon R. Pinder, CEO and president, Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC), Ying McGuire, CEO and president, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to announce the arrival of the prestigious NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s MBDA 40th Anniversary of Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week in the City of Baltimore for the first time. The four-day conference will take place October 22 - 25, 2023.

“The arrival of NMSDC and MBDA conference reaffirms the City of Baltimore’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and thriving business community”, said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “This will be the first opportunity Baltimore has had to host this combined event, and it is an honor that reflects our dedication to championing diversity and inclusion in Baltimore’s business community. This conference will not only boost our local economy but also nurture lasting partnerships among our vibrant minority-owned businesses. Above all it underscores the city’s commitment to economic growth, diversity, and inclusion for the local small, minority and women-owned businesses in our community.”

The conference, scheduled to take place at the Baltimore City Convention Center, will feature a series of engaging sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Additionally, Mayor Scott will lead the Equity in Contracting for Minority Businesses through the Invest in America Plan: A Convener of U.S. Mayors session, a nonpartisan roundtable aimed at deeply analyzing recent legislative advancements, like the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), and Inflation Reduction Act, to explore how these legislative measures enhance contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses during fund allocation to state and local governments.

“From a historical perspective, Baltimore is the ideal place to host the nation’s largest minority business conference”, said Sharon R. Pinder, CEO of the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council.  “Our region is the home of some of the most iconic figures of the nation’s Minority Business Movement, including Reginald F. Lewis, the first African American to build a billion-dollar company; and Congressman Parren J. Mitchell, the father of the historic MBE legislation that changed government contracting forever.”

“The coordination of NMSDC’s and MBDA’s events in Baltimore embodies our shared goal of promoting minority business growth to create a more equitable economy that works for all. By fostering access to contracts, capital, and more diverse networks, we hope to close the equity gap and unlock infinite opportunities for NMSDC-certified MBEs to soar past our goal of $1 trillion in annual revenue and build long-lasting, generational wealth for communities of color,” said NMSDC CEO and President Ying McGuire.

“The Minority Business Development Agency is excited to work with NMSDC to commemorate the 40th Annual National Minority Enterprise Development Week, a historic milestone for the minority business community,” said Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development. “MBDA and NMSDC share a mission to create an equitable business ecosystem to unlock our Nation’s economic potential. With historic investments across sectors and industries, the opportunity is here. MBDA and NMSDC have the tools and the reach to make this moment count by expanding access to capital, contracts, networks, and opportunities that every American entrepreneur deserves.”

Highlights for the NMSDC conference include Closing the Equity Gap programming, matchmaking and keynote sessions, impact labs and workshops, exhibits, and several networking receptions. For the past 50 years, NMSDC has taken unprecedented strides in advocating for, certifying, and facilitating the inclusion and development of thousands of minority business enterprises (MBEs). To date, the total certified MBEs account for $482.1 billion in economic output annually, sustaining 1.8 million jobs, with $136.4 billion total wages earned.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to host the NMSDC conference at the Baltimore Convention Center,” said Mayor’s Office of Small & Minority Business Advocacy & Development Director Christopher R. Lundy, Esq. “The conference will be educational, spotlight the issues minority business owners face, and provide a venue for networking for business opportunities. Our Mid-Atlantic Region MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center in Baltimore is critical to ensuring that we develop local minority manufacturers. Developing our local minority-owned businesses is a top priority of myself and Mayor Scott. We have seen from the 2022 MGT Disparity Study that our overall M/WBE spend for FY16 through FY19 grew to 29.3%, with 21.8% attributable to MBEs. Although our spending with M/WBEs is significant, we must continue to increase that number by providing additional opportunities to allow these businesses to develop and gain valuable experience while partnering with the City of Baltimore.”

The event will bring together an array of visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the nation and will provide a platform for small, minority, and women-owned businesses to connect with potential partners, suppliers, and clients while fostering economic growth and diversity within the city.

Visit nmsdcconference.org/2023 to learn more and to see the agenda.