Call for Companies: BEDC South Park & White Center Business Community Development Initiative

Sponsored by JP Morgan Chase

The BEDC is seeking to intensify its work to support business and job growth in West Seattle’s South Park and White Center neighborhoods by helping to grow 70-85 small businesses. The BEDC will also work to strengthen nonprofit development, employment, and education organizations that serve residents of these communities. [more...]

Just released, Minority Small Business Survey July edition

Despite some early signs of economic recovery in the broader economy, small businesses in Washington State are struggling as a result of the significant financial downturn in the US and globally. Small business owners have laid off employees, seen their revenues fail to meet their expectations, and are struggling to get the financing they need to be successful. To learn more about the state of small businesses in Washington, including those owned by people of color download your copy of the July 2009 Washington Minority Small Business Survey.

Save the Date: 2009 UW Minority Business of the Year Awards

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, December 10 as we come together to celebrate the achievements of Washington's minority business community at our 2009 UW Minority Business of the Year Awards.

The BEDC is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Minority Business of the Year Awards.  Anyone may submit a nomination; businesses may even nominate themselves.  The nomination process is quick and easy: simply visit our nomination page and provide the required information.  Once a business is nominated, they are also automatically nominated for the Puget Sound Business Journal's two most popular lists: the 25 Fastest Growing and the 50 Largest Minority Owned Companies.  Award winners will be invited to our Minority Business of the Year Awards dinner in December and will be featured in a Puget Sound Business Journal article.

Nominations will be accepted only through our on-line form. All nominees will be notified of their nomination by e-mail in early August and will submit their completed applications in September. For more information, please contact Jesse Robbins at (206) 543-3681.

Enrollment open for the Fall BEDC Certificate Program in Yakima and Tri-Cities.

The BEDC is pleased to offer its second BEDC Certificate Program this year. Through the generous financial support of Seattle Bank and State Farm Insurance and partnerships with community college partners and business development organizations in Tacoma and Tri-Cities, minority business owners with revenues under $500,000 can learn fundamentals that will help them take their business to the next level.

Thanks to support from United Parcel Service, scholarships are available to companies that qualify to receive them. Learn how you or a business owner you know can benefit from the BEDC Certificate Program. [more...]

BEDC launches Green Economy Network

“If you don’t go with the trend or things that make you more effective in business, then you’re not going to stay in business.”

As companies seek out environmentally friendly goods and services to reduce costs a new “green economy” is emerging. Much like the technology revolution in the 1990s, the emerging green economy offers opportunities to firms who can be among the early movers. Washington State’s economy is at the center of this change and the BEDC has launched an initiative to insure that minority- and women-owned small businesses have the information they need to profit from this economic evolution. Starting in July, the BEDC will build a network to provide minority- and women-owned small businesses with timely information on emerging trends, market opportunities, and educational programs. To learn more about this initiative or to sign-up to be a part of the network visit our Green Economy web site.