Minority Enterprise Development Week Highlights

by PIDC
October 29, 2019

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Presented by the City of Philadelphia, Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week highlights minority businesses and resources to help them grow. Throughout the second week of October, organizations from across the region hosted events focused on this year’s theme, “Moving the Needle.”

To kick off MED Week festivities, PIDC served as one of many vendors at the Philadelphia International Airport Business Opportunity Forum. For this featured MED Week prelude event, attendees had a chance to hear about small business initiatives, learn about procurement methods, and network with PHL Airport executives and business leaders. The 35th Annual MED Week Kick-off program took place at Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, in which PIDC also served as a vendor.

Following the kick-off program, MED Week 2019 featured more than 40 events, including educational workshops, interactive panel discussions, one-on-one coaching, and more. PIDC had the honor of partnering with others on a few of the festivities. Here’s a recap of our events:

See more photos on Philadelphia City Council’s Flickr.

How to Move the Needle

PIDC and the Office of Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown hosted our annual joint MED Week event, “How to Move the Needle,” at Penn State at The Navy Yard. The event included an engaging series of expert presentations featuring valuable information, guidance, and advice to minority-owned business enterprises on how to grow their business by minimizing costs and maximizing profits. Panelists discussed potential contracts, the top five things organizations look at when reviewing contracts, and how to sustain and grow a business. In addition to the councilwoman, the speaker and panel lineup included Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who shared remarks on the second district; Keynote speaker, Michelle Snow, owner of Michelle Snow Company; Prema Gupta, senior vice president of Navy Yard Planning & Development at The Navy Yard; Chuck Stefanosky, the director of strategy sourcing and procurement at Independence Blue Cross; and Spencer Wright, owner of Harness the Sun. Following the presentations, attendees were treated to an exclusive bus tour of The Navy Yard.

Business Resources at Community College of Philadelphia: Education & Contracts

PIDC partners, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) at Community College of Philadelphia, hosted an event featuring a panel of minority business owners, who are 10KSB alumni, discussing their classroom experience, business experiences, and results. The panel included PIDC client, 10KSB alumna, and woman-business owner, Sheila Adkins of Adkins Management. This event also provided access to procurement, facilities, and IT resources within the Community College of Philadelphia so minority business suppliers can identify contract opportunities.

Unleashing the Economic Partnership of Women in Business

On Friday, Oct 11, PIDC joined our partners at The Business Center, as they discuss the needs of businesses using hair and skin care products as well as information on the April 2020 opening of the Innovation Center for women and people of color. The event featured an informative panel discussion, which included special guest panelists such as PIDC’s Vice President & Senior Loan Officer, Heather Hanowitz, and PIDC client and the founder of Minority Business Enterprise development firm, Mosaic Development Partners, Leslie Smallwood-Lewis.

Everything You Need to Know About Doing Business

PIDC joined the Philadelphia Department Of Commerce’s Office of Business Services at the information session, Everything You Need to Know About Doing Business in the City. This event provided entrepreneurs with direct access to City Departments and other technical assistance partners, including Office of Business Services, Department of Licenses and Inspections, Department of Revenue, Health Department, Office of Economic Opportunity, Community College of Philadelphia, and Power Up Your Business. Following presentations from the aforementioned companies, attendees were given the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the presenters to gain information on how they can start, grow, and sustain their business in Philadelphia.

PIDC is committed to the growth and development of minority-owned businesses in Philadelphia. Learn more about how we can help your business.

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