Small businesses account for nearly 95 percent of all businesses in Multnomah County. Many of those businesses are minority- and women-owned, and those entrepreneurs bring valuable resources to our community, employing thousands.
That was the message Thursday as the Board of County Commissioners proclaimed Sept. 24 through Sept. 28 as Minority Enterprise Development Week in Multnomah County. The annual event raises awareness about minority enterprises and highlights the contributions that minority-owned, women-owned and emerging small businesses (MWESBs) bring to the community.
Lee Fleming, the County’s supplier diversity officer, delivered the proclamation. Fleming is the County’s expert on business equity, helping to promote contracting for all vendors - especially minority-owned, women-owned and emerging small businesses. Fleming is also the Chair for Business Diversity Institute, Inc. Through outreach and education, the nonprofit aims to strengthen small businesses throughout the region. Multnomah County is one of its partners.
Multnomah County is committed to advancing opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned and emerging small businesses. That includes increasing minority contractor participation on construction projects, ensuring major contractors have plans in place to support workforce diversity, and using Supplier Portal, an online tool that helps the County better procure services from minority enterprises.
“It’s really important for us that there are meaningful opportunities for minority businesses to participate fully,” Chair Deborah Kafoury said at the meeting.
Commissioner Lori Stegmann is a minority business owner, herself. She praised the proclamation as an important part of supporting Multnomah County’s minority enterprise community.
“As an owner of a small business, being a woman and a minority, I think this is great,” Stegmann said. “Often, we need help and we just don’t always know the steps involved in starting a small business.”
To celebrate MED Week, Business Diversity Institute, Inc. will be hosting a number of training workshops and events. To learn more about MED Week events, including training workshops, keynote speakers and the MED Week Awards Luncheon, visit the event webpage.