Promoting Minority Business Enterprise

FHEO Supervisor Elva Lewis and Operations Specialist Jack Brown discuss HUD programs resources with conference attendees.

Promoting and increasing contracting opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses is a priority at HUD. HUD staff from the Columbus Field Office provided time-critical information on contracting opportunities and resources to small and minority businesses at the All Ohio Trade Fair in Columbus on June 10-11, 2003. The Ohio Minority Business Councils, Honda, the Ohio Department of Development, and over 70 other corporate and government entities sponsored the conference and trade show. More than 400 minority business participants were registered for the event, which attracted over 80 exhibitors.

Ohio Governor Bob Taft, and other private and public sector leaders, presented awards to Toyota, Cinergy, Case Western Reserve University, and the President's Council (a partnership of major corporations and small minority business leaders in Ohio) for demonstrated successes in promoting contracting opportunities with minority businesses.