Minority and Other Specialized Business Sectors

Diversity Increases Innovation

Increasing diversity achieves the benefits of innovation and fresh ideas. People tend to think of diversity as simply demographic, a matter of race, gender or age. However, groups can be disparate in many ways. Diversity also is based on informational differences, reflecting a person's education and experience, and on values or goals that can influence what one perceives. In addition to minorities and women, other diversity groups include mature workers, veterans, welfare recipients, people with disabilities, and gays/lesbians.

The SBDC is committed to embracing and encouraging diversity and inclusion statewide. Following are tools for Minority and Other Specialized business sectors:

• AARP - Information for starting a business, if you're over 50 years old
• Americans for Indian Opportunity Organization - Catalyzes and facilitates culturally appropriate initiatives and opportunities that enrich the cultural, political and economic lives of Indigenous peoples
• Black Enterprise Online -Tips that focus on helping black entrepreneurs
• Black Founders -University of Maryland
• Diversity Business.com - Resource portal for small businesses and large organizational buyers (i.e., Fortune 1000 Companies, Government Agencies and College/Universities) that facilitates contacts and communication and provides vital business news and information
• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) - Part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, MBDA is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America
• Minority Business Entrepreneur Magazine - Reports on issues critical to the growth and development of minority owned firms
• National Association of Women Business Owners - One-stop resource propelling women business owners into greater economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide
• National Black Chamber of Commerce - Dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States
• National Center For American Indian Enterprise Development - Non-profit organization founded and directed by American Indians, committed to Business Development for Indian People
• National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce - Advocates expanding economic opportunities of gay and lesbian-owned and gay-friendly businesses
• National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse - Free, bilingual web portal that provides critical business information to support the start-up and growth of Hispanic-owned businesses
• National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. - Provides a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses
• National Organization on Disability - Promotes the full participation of America’s 54 million people with disabilities in all aspects of life
• SBA Office of Native American Affairs - Ensures that American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the necessary business development and expansion tools available
• SBA Office of Veterans Business Development - Maximizes the availability and usability of all administration small business programs for Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans, Reserve Component Members, and their Dependents or Survivors
• SBA Women’s Business Centers - Assists women in achieving their dreams and improving their communities by helping them start and run successful businesses, regardless of social or financial disadvantage, race, ethnicity or business background
• SBA Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program
• State of Maryland Office of Minority Affairs (OMA) - Advocates for minority- and woman-owned businesses seeking state certification and state procurement opportunities
• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Fosters Latina entrepreneurs, youth, member chambers, and the Hispanic business community overall
• United States Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce - Gateway for all Asian American and Asian American-related groups to corporate and government contracts, Asian American and minority business suppliers, information about Asian Americans and the Asia market
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - News and hot topics of interest to Veterans and their families
• Veteran Founders- University of Maryland
• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) - The nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations provides a national standard of certification to women-owned businesses throughout the country
• Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) - Educates and advocates on behalf of women-owned businesses
• Women Founders- University of Maryland