BIPOC Business Support

The U.S Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only Federal Government agency solely dedicated to the support of minority businesses enterprise.

MBDA Center-Tacoma is 1 of 44 programs focused on increasing access to capital, contracts and new markets for minority-owned businesses.

The Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) develops programs designed to improve the contributions of minority- and women-owned small businesses to the Washington State economy. The group helps equip startups with small business loans for women- and minority-owned businesses in the state. The OMWBE assists qualified businesses in the state with certification programs for public contracting, procurement, and access to financial opportunities.

The Tacoma Urban League (TUL) has provided critical support and services to the Tacoma-Pierce County community since its founding in 1968. With a mission to empower Black Americans and other disenfranchised groups to enter the economic and social mainstream, the TUL is focused on five key areas—housing, health care, education, employment and justice.

The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Small Business Resiliency Network helps small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic find and apply for resources, access translation services, navigate local, state and federal funding and plan for economic recovery.

The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County works closely with the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber to create proactive programming to ensure Pierce County businesses work towards anti-racist policies. Through involvement in projects like Washington Employers for Racial Equity, which brings together CEOs and corporate leaders to advance equity and opportunity across the state, the two organizations are working to ensure they live up to this standard and move the community forward. Read the Chamber and EDB’s joint letter on anti-racism and business here.