City of Tacoma Awarded $2 Million Federal MBDA Business Center Program Grant

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on July 8th announced that MBDA Tacoma received a $2 million award to support their operations for the next five years. The announcement came during a roundtable discussion with minority-owned small business leaders and entrepreneurs from across Washington who shared their own successful experiences with the Center.

The MBDA-Tacoma Business Center and Business Impact Northwest hosted the meeting which included Senator Cantwell, Commerce Secretary Raimondo, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards and a panel of minority-owned firms. CMBDA clients voiced their experiences and feedback about the importance of MBDA’s role in assisting minority-owned businesses and federal support for the agency.

The City’s MBDA Business Center has served growing minority-owned businesses in the local area and region since September 2016. Through June 30, 2026, the City will receive $400,000 annually in federal funds over a five-year period, as long as satisfactory performance is met and congressional appropriations are made.

Read the full press release from City of Tacoma here.
Read full press release from Senator Cantwell’s office here.

Updated: July 12, 2021