The city of Charlotte will celebrate its third Minority Economic Development Week, starting Monday, Oct. 13, and UNC Charlotte will participate in the event.
The University will share event sponsorship with several locally based government agencies and building contractors that are committed to providing streamlined opportunities for minority-owned businesses in Charlotte’s growing economy.
The Minority Business Development Agency, within the U.S. Department of Commerce, is responsible for National Minority Economic Development (MED) Week, observed during the summer with the theme “Connecting Business with Opportunity.” It was recognized in a presidential proclamation stating, “… if we invest in small businesses and give all our entrepreneurs a chance to compete, new opportunities will open, and we will flourish - as individuals and as a nation.”
In this spirit, Charlotte MED Week sponsors will host a variety of events including a golf outing on Monday, Oct. 13, several workshops and vendor exhibitions Tuesday and Wednesday and an awards luncheon on Thursday to conclude the observance.
“There will be great opportunities for people who want to learn how to do business with Charlotte government agencies, including UNC Charlotte, the city of Charlotte, CMS, CPCC and Charlotte Housing Authority, just to name a few,” said Dorothy Vick, HUB coordinator in UNC Charlotte’s Department of Facilities Management. “We want to ensure our entire business community, which includes minority-owned firms, is provided avenues to succeed.”
UNC Charlotte awarded 13 contracts during fiscal year 2014 for both new construction and renovation/repair projects. Of the $77.8 million in construction dollars awarded, $27.3 million - or 35.1 percent - went to HUB firms, the majority of them located in the Charlotte area. Vick stated the University will continue to focus on growing minority-owned businesses relationships and facing future challenges.
Click here for more information and to register for 2014 Charlotte MED Week.