The Minority Business Empowerment Team (MBET) won an international award Tuesday, September 20th. MBET took home the Silver Award in Economic Equity & Inclusion for the 2022 Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The award was presented at the 2022 IEDC Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, OK.
IEDC’s Excellence and Leadership in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs, partnerships, marketing materials, and influential leaders. These 25 awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Awards are judged by a diverse panel of economic and community developers from around the world. IEDC received over 500 submissions from the United States and four additional countries.
The Award for Economic Equity & Inclusion recognizes programs dedicated to improving the quality of life within a community through focused, innovative, and inclusive initiatives that incorporate the unique experiences and knowledge of underserved members of the community. These programs promote economic equity and inclusion and/or provide increased access to government and community resources to an underserved populace.
“This year’s awards selection process was especially competitive. We are honored to recognize the more than 100 communities whose marketing submissions, projects, and partnerships have improved regional quality of life,” said IEDC Awards Advisory Committee Chair Christina Winn.
MBET has seen much success this year in forming and building a network of entrepreneurs, recognizing local minority leaders, and supporting new and existing businesses. Among some of its programs is the MBET Startup Scholarship that awards new minority-owned businesses grants that cover the cost of incorporating with the State and additional startup funding. Eight new businesses were awarded the scholarship this year. See the most recent winners here.
2022 Black Business Pioneer Awards
About The Minority Business Empowerment Team
Minority Business Empowerment Team (MBET) is a grassrollaborative effort between local minority-owned businesses, economic development organizations – ECEDC & RISE, the City of Sandusky and its Commissioners, and Sandusky City Schools. MBET’s mission is to champion minority business development through collective and intentional entrepreneur support that improves the economic, social, and personal standing for all minority entrepreneurs in the Greater Sandusky Area. Since coming together in 2020, the group has used networking events and social media to build community and increase visibility of local minority entrepreneurs and have delivered business and financial assistance to minority-owned businesses. Learn more on Facebook @MBETSandusky.
About International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,800 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.