Bridgeport lands $1M grant

The U.S. Department of Commerce”™s Minority Business Development Agency recently announced $7.3 million in funding to winners of a grant competition designed to boost job creation and the global competitiveness of minority-owned businesses nationwide.

The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council received $1.02 million to operate the MBDA Business Center in Bridgeport, which will focus on the “American Indian and Alaskan Native business community.”

The Bridgeport money will be dispensed across the next four years.

Other recipients”™ money will be dispersed across three years. They include Baltimore ($900,000), Houston ($900,000), the South Bronx ($1.5 million), St. Louis ($900,000), San Francisco ($1.2 million) and Washington, D.C. ($900,000).

UPDATED 9.19.2013: An earlier version of this article stated Chicago instead of St. Louis as the recipient of $900,000.

“MBDA is committed to the continued success of all minority-owned firms, who strengthen the economy and create American jobs,” David A. Hinson, MBDA national director, said. “These new centers will expand the number of front-line business experts we have providing resources to minority-owned businesses to help grow economies in more cities across the U.S.”

The MBDA bills itself as is the only federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses.