On Monday, October 5, the City’s Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) will kick off the 36th annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, which highlights minority businesses and the resources that help them grow. This year’s MED Week will be entirely virtual, with a series of engaging events and activities to help support minority businesses in Philadelphia.
Throughout the week, organizations from across the region will host virtual workshops, events, and webinars. This year’s theme is “Preparing For The Next Normal,” which reflects the challenges businesses have faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
OEO focuses its efforts on economic equity for minority-, women-, or disabled-owned business enterprises (M/W/DSBE). More than 30 local agencies have partnered with OEO to offer a week of programming designed to connect diverse vendors to the skills, network, and opportunity they need to grow and thrive.
There are several ways you can “Prepare For The Next Normal” during MED Week, including:
- Attend the MED Week virtual kick-off event.
On October 5, OEO will share information about the more than two dozen events held by partner organizations during the week and will recognize several people and businesses that have had an impact over the past year. - Take part in a workshop.
Throughout MED Week, many organizations will hold virtual workshops focused on topics of interests for minority firms, including certification, capacity-building, pivoting during the pandemic, marketing, and more. - Network with other M/W/DSBE firms.
In business, your network is a vital resource. Get to know other firms in the region and start building relationships that can be beneficial to your business.
Not only will MED Week celebrate the value of M/W/DSBE firms in the region, it will also highlight the work of OEO staff, City employees, and the network of stakeholders who help M/W/DSBE firms access billions of dollars in contracts across the region. In the difficult economic times ahead, it is especially critical that everything is done to ensure local diverse firms have a fair and equitable chance to get business.
