National ACE Statement on the Confirmation of Don Cravins to Under Secretary of Commerce for the Minority Business Development Agency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2022
CONTACT:
Sarah Haque
703-717-2076
National ACE Statement on the Confirmation of Don Cravins to Under Secretary of Commerce for the Minority Business Development Agency
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) commends the confirmation of Under Secretary Don Cravins to lead the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) as the Agency enters a new era in its mission to support minority-owned businesses.
As the only federal agency that is entirely committed to minority entrepreneurs, the MBDA’s new permanent status and leadership is long overdue. Under Secretary Cravins comes to this new role with decades of experience supporting minority businesses as a member of the Louisiana State Senate, Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and most recently as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Urban League, where he led the corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative.
“In his new role, Under Secretary Cravins will lay the foundation for the MBDA that will spur more resources, opportunities, and support for minority-owned businesses for decades to come. Under Secretary Cravins is a proven leader in this space, and there isn’t a better person to lead the MBDA into this new chapter. We look forward to him being sworn in,” said President and CEO of National ACE, Chiling Tong.
In November 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 and granted the MBDA permanent status. This new status expands the reach and scope of the organization by establishing Senate-confirmed leadership, a grants program, an advisory council, and the MBDA as the United States’ newest federal agency. National ACE released a statement in support of Under Secretary Cravins nomination in March 2022.