Minority Business Development Act of 2021

The Minority Business Development Act of 2021 permanently establishes the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) as a statutory part of the Department of Commerce, elevating its leadership to a Senate-confirmed Under Secretary. The bill expands the agency's reach by creating a network of regional offices and rural business centers designed to help minority-owned enterprises access capital, secure government contracts, and enter foreign markets.

For everyday citizens and entrepreneurs, this legislation provides more stable and accessible resources for starting or growing a business, including specialized grants for nonprofits and entrepreneurship programs at minority-serving colleges. By codifying these programs into law, the bill aims to ensure that support services for socially or economically disadvantaged business owners remain a permanent fixture of federal economic policy. Although S. 2068 was introduced as a standalone bill, its provisions were ultimately enacted into law as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021.