2023 Contracting Summit: Equity in Government Contracting, Henry Bridgers, Grinnell College, Intern.

On Thursday, September 14th, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) hosted the 2023 Contracting Summit: Equity in Government Contracting. At this event, public sector representatives and government contractors gathered in the White House Eisenhower Executive Office building to discuss current initiatives and contracting opportunities for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

The Summit began with a welcome by Donald R. Cravins, Under Secretary of Commerce for the MBDA. Mr. Cravins gave a brief overview of the issues minority businesses face, drawing attention to the lack of minority representation in contracting.

After Mr. Cravins' address, Gene B. Sperling, Senior Advisor to the President, shared brief remarks before returning to the White House to address issues concerning the United Auto Workers’ Strike in Michigan.

Public Sector Panel: Overview and Updates on Federal Investments

The next session was the Public Sector Panel: Overview and Updates on Federal Investments with representatives from the Department of Commerce (USDOC), the Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Department of Energy (USDOE), and the Department of Defense (USDOD).

The panelists provided an overview of the Biden-Harris Administration's investments in infrastructure, semiconductors, and clean energy. The panelists urged MBEs to explore federal programs and opportunities specifically pertaining to technology and energy.

Government Contractors Panel: Perspectives on Contracting Barriers

The final session Government Contractors Panel: Perspectives on Contracting Barriers featured representatives from trade associations, chambers, and MBEs. The panel was introduced by Larry Stubblefield, Acting Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development with the SBA. Mr. Stubblefield expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court ruling on June 29th in the SFFA case against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. He discussed the impact of the ruling on the SBA, notably the suspension of the 8(a) program.

MBE owners shared stories of their struggles as minorities in business. The discussion provided resources and information relating to federal contracts and loans. All panelists expressed concern with the current legal climate. Enyinna Anthony — founder, President, and CEO of Anthony Management group — called business owners to action, urging all business owners “to testify and fight for the 8(a) program.”

Editor: William Michael Cunningham

Maternal Health Financing Facility for Black Women: A Solution to an Urgent Problem

Maternal mortality is a significant issue in the United States, with Black women disproportionately affected. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that Black women are more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. However, the issue is not new, and despite the increasing amount of data available, the disparities have remained unaddressed for far too long. Creative Investment Research (CIR) is among the organizations that believe there is a solution to the problem. Through our proposed impact investing vehicle , the Maternal Health Financing Facility for Black Women (MHFFBW), we aim to tackle the mortality gap and support Black women during childbirth, which will, in turn, benefit their communities. The Facility, based on legally binding financing agreements containing terms and conditions that direct resources to individuals and institutions capable of addressing supply-side conditions at the heart of

BRICS Summit 2023: Navigating the Transformation of Global Finance

Recent developments in the global financial landscape have captured the attention of the finance world, promising a new era of integration, transformation, and collaboration. Amidst the excitement, however, it is essential to acknowledge the formidable obstacles that stand in the way of realizing these ambitions. The 2023 BRICS Summit , slated to convene amidst this shifting landscape, is poised to be a significant juncture that could have profound implications for the future of international finance. The resurgence of Bitcoin, marked by an impressive, if smaller, year-to-date price surge, has underscored its enduring relevance. Similar concerns surround the exploration of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The UK's digital pound initiative, while forward-looking, raises questions about stability, security, and privacy and potential economic power imbalances. The notion of a BRICS digital currency, potentially extended to include several countries, reflects a desire to chall

Projected Impact of Gun Laws on Corporate Profits in Texas

More Fortune 500 companies are located in Texas than in any other state. Texas successfully used low taxes and minimal regulations as bait to recruit companies like Tesla and Oracle. The state promoted these “advantages” in ads highlighting their “free-market” environment and criticizing the "tax and spend policies of liberal leadership" in Democrat-run states. Four million people migrated to Texas over the past ten years. Our economic models predict a reversal, however. State of Texas corporations on the Fortune 1000 list generate $2.2 trillion in revenue, $158 billion in profit. They have a market value of $3.8 trillion and employ 2.5 million people nationwide. We continue to believe this increased corporate presence in Texas imposes a tax on the nation as a whole. Texas allows anyone 21 or older to carry handguns without training or licenses, and maintains lower gun purchase age limits. Beyond the recent abortion bill, which allows people to sue those who "aid and abe

This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

Search This Blog