MINORITY ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT MONTH
2024
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes minority-owned businesses, including those owned by women, as key drivers of economic success; according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey, in 2021, approximately 1.2 million firms were minority-owned while an estimated 1.3 million were owned by women; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Administration’s Offices for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the NC Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of Civil Rights, join other state government departments and organizations in elevating and strengthening minority and women-owned businesses across the state through training, resources, and support; and
WHEREAS, due to statewide support, spending with HUB firms for building construction, goods, and services reached the highest level in 10 years during fiscal year 2021-22, with more than $213 million in building construction spending and more than $640 million in goods and services spending; and
WHEREAS, during fiscal year 2022-23, MBDA increased the number of federal, state, and local contracts awarded to historically underutilized businesses, with over $21 million in contracts awarded and over 875 jobs sustained and/or created; and
WHEREAS, DOT's Office of Civil Rights continues to play a vital role in advancing various initiatives aimed at fostering workforce and enterprise development, empowering emerging talent, and increasing supply chain opportunities to promote small, minority, and women-owned businesses through outreach, development, match making, and membership programs; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina recognizes and celebrates the achievements of historically underutilized businesses and encourages participation in programs that honor their contributions and impact their expansion of access to economic opportunities statewide;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2024, as “MINORITY ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.
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Roy Cooper
Governor
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this first day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.