North Carolina Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center Program Update
To our valued NC MBDA Business Center clients and partners:
On April 17, 2025, we received notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce informing us that their cooperative agreement with the North Carolina Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center was terminated.
The notice, dated the same day of receipt, directed us to cease all operations and client work effective as of that same date. This affects many MBDA Business Centers, Specialty Centers, programs, and
initiatives nationwide and stems from President Trump’s March 14, 2025, executive order directing Administration staff to eliminate the MBDA program.
The NC MBDA Business Center is operated by the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB). The HUB Office is a state program that works to increase the number and type of businesses
competing for state contracts, which helps government get the best value for taxpayer dollars. The HUB Office remains open for business.
We realize you may have questions about next steps; please send your questions to ncmbda@doa.nc.gov. Alternatively, you may reach out directly to MBDA staff in Washington, D.C., by contacting them here. Please note that the federal MBDA website has not been updated to reflect that our Center is no longer operational.
About the NC MBDA Center
Opened on Oct. 8, 2021, the NC MBDA Center was one of 35 MBDA bureaus across the U.S. & Puerto Rico.
Operated by the Department of Administration's Historically Underutilized Businesses Office through a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA Center, the center provided aid for the growth of North Carolina firms' business development and capacity building.
About the U.S. MBDA
The U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA's mission is to foster the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. small businesses.
The U.S. MBDA accomplishes its mission by facilitating transactions through referrals, business consulting, contract bid/proposal preparation, loan packaging, and/or matching contract opportunities and capital sources (i.e. loans, equity, bonding, etc.).
In addition, the MBDA helps clients to achieve their growth objectives by connecting them with prospective strategic partners through business-to-business matching, teaming arrangements, joint ventures, or other strategic advisory services.
