The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously proclaimed MED Week Proclamation (186.83 KB) the week of September 29 through October 6 as Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week in order to recognize the invaluable economic and social contributions of minority business owners in Multnomah County.
The commissioners approved the proclamation at the board meeting on September 23. Americans have recognized MED Week since 1983, when President Ronald Regan signed a proclamation to recognize the minority business owners whose enterprises generate jobs for millions of Americans.
The number of contracts awarded to minority-owned businesses by Multnomah County doubled from fiscal year 2009 to 2010. In the same period, the county increased the number of contracts awarded to minority and women-owned businesses by eight percent.
In the greater U.S., over 4.1 million minority-owned firms earn a total of $694.1 billion in revenue and employ 4.8 million employees. The U.S. Census found that from 2002 to 2007, the number of minority-owned businesses increased by 46 percent, more than twice the rate for all businesses.
In honor of MED Week, the Business Diversity Institute Inc. is sponsoring an event that includes training sessions and an awards ceremony on Wednesday, October 6 at the Oregon Convention Center. Details and registration are available at their event page.