(Washington, D.C.) — Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. (Little Rock, AR), president of the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), released the following statement as Mr. Donald Cravins, Jr. was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to be the first Under Secretary for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce:

“Minority-owned businesses significantly contribute to U.S. innovation and the economy. As the first Under Secretary of the MBDA, he will ensure minority business owners can scale their business from midsize to large within their local communities. America’s mayors look forward to working with Under Secretary Cravins to build a more inclusive economy for all.

“The African American Mayors Association submitted a letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to affirm our support for Mr. Donald Cravins, Jr. in this new role that will support America’s cities and local innovation like never before. For too long, communities of color have been locked out of full participation in business due to systemic barriers to entry. The creation of this role is a key part of the Biden’s administration’s commitment to equity and inclusion.”

The Minority Business Development Act of 2021 was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This historic piece of legislation made the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) a permanent resource in the federal government. MBDA is the only federal agency solely dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of our nation’s minority-owned businesses. Unlike the Small Business Administration, the MBDA has no business size restrictions.