Advocacy Agenda
The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has its roots in the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. Having originated as the Chicago Economic Development Corporation, NMSDC was created to advance economic equity in systematically excluded communities of color. For 50 years, NMSDC has been on the ground working to achieve inclusive prosperity for Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities through entrepreneurship.
Federal Legislative Priorities
Economic equity is an integral part of the civil rights challenge of our generation. Ensuring equitable opportunities for NMSDC-certified MBES to participate in the business ecosystem is critical in moving our nation forward. This is the moment to lean into opportunities to grow and scale minority-owned businesses.
We are calling on members of Congress to promote and adopt economic inclusion by helping to provide a pathway by which entrepreneurs of color can participate inclusively in the business economy.
NMSDC’s priority is to focus on three major advocacy areas that will ensure equitable opportunities in federal contracting and access to capital.
Promoting Minority Business Participation in New Energy Ventures
As the energy landscape undergoes a profound shift towards cleaner and more sustainable sources, it is crucial to ensure that minority business enterprises (MBEs) have equitable opportunities to participate in this transition. The new energy sector, including automotive electrification, renewable energy research, advancements in the petroleum industry, and utilities transition all present significant growth potential. This shift not only presents opportunities to move our world towards sustainable energy production and consumption, but can generate historic economic advancements for all of our communities. Historically marginalized communities, namely communities of color, are the most likely to be impacted by climate change and energy transition. MBEs can ensure that these communities and all of America are able to benefit from and contribute
to these major advancements.
Racial Equity in Policy Implementation
The Investing in America Agenda, which includes the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction, marks a historic, once-in-a-generation investment. NMSDC applauds these legislative milestones and their profound impact on American communities through infrastructure enhancements, energy resilience, and groundbreaking innovation. Central to this agenda is an imperative for racial equity, ensuring fair distribution of investments and contracting opportunities. NMSDC prioritizes enabling communities of color, particularly MBEs, to access these opportunities. We urge federal and state governments to work with us to ensure that all Americans benefit from these historic investments.
Responding to Legal Threats
As diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives face increasing legal challenges, particularly in state-specific legislation and judicial actions against policies and agencies that exist to advance minority-owned businesses and business and supplier diversity programs, NMSDC is intensifying its efforts to protect and promote diverse businesses and business practices. Recognizing the adverse impacts such legal opposition is having on MBEs, NMSDC is committed to collaborating with corporate leaders, who overwhelmingly believe that diversity initiatives are critical for their business strategies, as well as legal experts to respond to this assault and enhance public awareness of the importance of DEI initiatives.
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As we serve as a growth engine for NMSDC-certified MBEs, we want to share the activities and accomplishments of our advocacy agenda. Subscribe to NMSDC communications to receive our quarterly Advocacy in Action Update newsletter.