|
|
Strategic Partners & Resources Seventy-five percent of the rapid growth potential Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) CCD has provided assistance to in the past are in the retail or service area, which represents the largest percentage of jobs in the state. The Washington State SBDC network, which has 22 SBDCs across the state, helps CCD in identifying and serving MBEs that are in geographically distant locations. The MBEC™ at CCD has also identified the manufacturing and construction areas as industries with high job creation and economic impact potential. Therefore, CCD has partnered with Washington Manufacturing Services, which provides assistance and training statewide to manufacturing firms. CCD has also identified an organization founded by the Urban League of Greater Seattle, the Contractor Development Competitiveness Center, which specializes in assisting minority construction firms. One of CCD’s present partners, the Washington State Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) has been identified for its superior training and assistance in the area of procurement assistance for MBEC clients. CCD is also targeting the largest MBE communities in Washington, which are located in the following Seattle neighborhoods: Central Area, Southeast Seattle, International District, Pioneer Square, and Beacon Hill. These communities are all part of Seattle’s Enterprise Community, and historically have experienced less economic opportunity and high poverty levels. CCD has identified the Urban Enterprise Center, a program of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, for assistance in identifying MBEs in these communities and best practices for working in the communities where rapid growth-potential MBEs can have the most economic impact. The University of Washington Business and Economic Development Program has also been selected as a Strategic Partner for its research and work with MBEs. A partnership with the University of Washington’s Business Economic Development Program (BEDP) will increase opportunities for academic/business/industrial collaborations that lead to commercialization of new technologies, the next generation of corporations, and the diffusion of cutting-edge technology to Washington’s small and medium-sized firms. This partnership will continue to generate new ideas and products for the world in addition to increasing the production levels of basic industries.
|
||
|
 |