Thanks, Secretary Raimondo, for that introduction. It’s an honor to be right here with you and Below Secretary Cravins. And thanks all for being right here as we speak.
As we speak, we’re excited to share the mission and imaginative and prescient of the Workplace of Religion-Based mostly and Neighborhood Partnerships. You’ll hear instantly from our bureaus about their work, together with applications like funding, grants, coaching alternatives, entry to knowledge and innovation, and technical help that could be accessible to you.
However extra importantly, as we speak is about you. We’re thrilled to have so many various states and organizations represented at as we speak’s summit. Our objective is to succeed in each nook of America. And this summit is simply the beginning. We need to hold this dialogue going and develop an ecosystem of lasting relationships, each between the members and with the Commerce Division.
As you heard from Secretary Raimondo, this has been an unimaginable two years on the Commerce Division. The Biden Administration is making once-in-a-generation investments to rebuild our infrastructure, help our home semiconductor business, and fight local weather change.
Each the Commerce Division and the Biden-Harris Administration are dedicated to making sure that underrepresented staff and companies can partake within the unprecedented alternatives that these investments are bringing. We’re working to construct a extra inclusive economic system that grows from the underside up and the center out.
As we sort out these sorts of points – and work to make significant progress in addressing inequality and supporting underserved communities – we’re going want your assist. Have interaction with Andres Chong-Qui Torres, Director of the Workplace of Religion-Based mostly and Neighborhood Partnerships, and our division and share your experience. And please encourage these in your networks to take part as properly.
I come from a protracted line of small enterprise house owners and perceive how essential it’s to help our underserved and underrepresented communities.
My four-time nice grandparents constructed a profitable horse and buggy taxi enterprise that stood on the land the place the Commerce Division sits as we speak. Their son owned a premier resort simply blocks away and have become one among our nation’s first Black patent-holders. Their success as minority entrepreneurs was essential for our household’s well-being, and contributed to this nation’s success story.
Our objective for this summit is to copy that form of success. Collectively, we will safe a affluent and aggressive future for all Individuals. So, thanks once more for being right here as we speak. I’m excited for our dialogue.
Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce our subsequent speaker. From his days serving within the Louisiana State Legislature, to his work on Capitol Hill and his management on the Nationwide City League, Don Cravins has a powerful report as an advocate for small and minority owned companies.
As Below Secretary for Minority Enterprise Improvement, he’s bringing the kind of management that may assist MBDA usher in a brand new period of progress, analysis, and improvement for American’s minority enterprise enterprises. With that, it’s my pleasure to introduce our first-ever Below Secretary for Minority Enterprise Improvement, Don Cravins.