View source for Minority Enterprise Development Week

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = National Minority Enterprise Development Week
|type = National
|image = 2017MEDWeekLogo.png
|image_size = 150px
|caption = Official Logo for National MED Week 2017
|official_name = National Minority Enterprise Development Week
|nickname = National MED Week, MED Week
|observedby = United States
|date = October
|duration     = 1 week
|frequency    = Yearly
}}
'''National Minority Enterprise Development Week''', also known as '''National MED Week''', is a special week in the month of October, observed in the United States to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of the [[minority business enterprise]] community.
== History ==
President [[Ronald Reagan]] first recognized National MED Week in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mbda.gov/page/remarks-white-house-ceremony-marking-observance-minority-enterprise-development-week-president|title=Remarks at a White House Ceremony Marking the Observance of Minority Enterprise Development Week, President Reagan|publisher=Minority Business Development Agency}}</ref> Each year, every President of the United States officially recognizes National MED Week through a [[Presidential Proclamation]]. The week is formally celebrated each year by the [[Minority Business Development Agency]], a U.S. government agency housed within the U.S. [[Department of Commerce]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mbda.gov/calendar/2017-national-minority-enterprise-development-med-week|title=2017 National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week|publisher=Minority Business Development Agency}}</ref>
== Observation by President Trump ==
President [[Donald Trump]] became the first President of the United States to formally recognize minority-owned businesses in the [[Oval Office]] during National MED Week, when he welcomed winners of the [[National MED Week Awards]] on October 24, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-recognizes-minority-owned-businesses/|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=President Donald J. Trump Recognizes Minority-Owned Businesses}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/oct/24/trump-minority-owned-firms-succeed/|title=Trump says minority-owned firms to succeed ‘especially with Trump as your president’}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-participates-in-the-minority-enterprise-development-week-awards-ceremony-live-stream/|title=Trump promises "jobs, jobs, jobs"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?436243-1/president-trump-delivers-remarks-minority-enterprise-development|title=President Trump Delivers Remarks Minority Enterprise Development, Oct 24 2017|website=C-SPAN.org}}</ref> On October 20, 2017, President Trump issued a proclamation to officially designate October 22 through October 28, 2017 as National Minority Enterprise Development Week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/10/26/2017-23525/minority-enterprise-development-week-2017|title=Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2017|date=October 26, 2017}}</ref>
== Awards ==
The '''[[Minority Business Development Agency]]''' holds an awards ceremony each year during National MED Week to recognize the contributions of minority-owned businesses in a variety of industry categories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mbda.gov/news/press-releases/2017/10/mbda-announces-2017-national-med-week-award-winners|title=MBDA Announces 2017 National MED WEEK Award Winners|date=October 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usveteransmagazine.com/2017/03/31/minority-business-development-agency-seeking-nominations-for-2017-med-week-awards/|title=Minority Business Development Agency Seeking Nominations For 2017 MED Week Awards – US Veterans and Military Magazine – A US Veterans News Resource|date=March 31, 2017}}</ref> These awards include:
* Minority Business Enterprise of the Year
* Minority Construction Firm of the Year
* Minority Export Firm of the Year
* Minority Manufacturing Firm of the Year
* Minority Energy Firm of the Year
* Minority Technology Firm of the Year
* Minority Health Products and Services Firm of the Year
* Minority Marketing and Communications Firm of the Year
* Minority Professional Services Firm of the Year
* Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement
* Access to Capital Award
* Advocate of the Year Award
* Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award
* Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award
== References ==
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{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Awareness weeks in the United States]]