Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) started off with representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expressing how important President Obama’s American Jobs Act is to small businesses. Other agency representatives continued with this message throughout the day.

Six million American workers have been unemployed for six months or longer, diverse communities are at an even greater risk and small businesses continue to account for two out of every three newly-created jobs. Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor Seth Harris stated that investing in small businesses allows people to reinvest in their local community, hire local workers and help grow the local economy.

Acting Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Estelle Richman.

The Acting Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Estelle Richman, further detailed the American Jobs Act, in particular Project Rebuild, which specifically helps local communities. The project will provide funds to rehabilitate foreclosed and demolished structures while creating 191,000 new jobs.

Agencies had a clear message at MED Week: "Congress needs to pass this bill now." The American Jobs Act will put great emphasis on small businesses, the engine that creates more jobs, invests in local communities and adds to the economy. Each agency explained how it was reinforcing the importance of small businesses through achieving its contracting goals, particularly with businesses that are minority owned. Though they were pleased with the increased number of federal contracts being awarded to small businesses, the overall consensus was that there were gaps to be filled and more contracts that should go to minority-owned companies.

The National Director of the MBDA, David Hinson, explained that in our current administration, they realize that the best way to create jobs is in the private sector. Minority-owned, woman-owned and small businesses create six million jobs and an additional 10 million indirectly through their economic activity.

Hinson used these statistics as a gateway to begin talking about how the jobs act will allow small business owners to cut their payroll taxes on the first $5 million and make additional cuts for hiring military veterans. It will also put more money in the pockets of consumers today, with the average family gaining $1,500.

Karen G. Mills, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBA Administrator Karen Mills stated, "Our job at the SBA is to make sure you have the tools to expand your business and start creating jobs again." Whether it’s the SBA, GSA or MBDA, each agency has made great strides in providing resources online and at outreach events.

Hinson added that the more small businesses are able to grow, the more they can create jobs and make contributions to the economy. The resources available to contractors and small businesses will not only allow them to grow, but make strategic partnerships that will result in first-time contracting wins and even mentors.

"We need to level the playing field, which is why Obama made reaching out to small business owners a key priority. To have an entire team devoted to working with small business owners and that they have the information and resources available. Their work is paying off," said the Honorable Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services HHS.