The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the full participation and entrepreneurial parity of minority business enterprises (MBEs) in our national economy. MBDA actively promotes the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. businesses that are minority-owned by offering strategic deal-making and business consulting services through a nationwide network comprised of MBDA staff and the MBDA Business Center program funded by the Agency. The MBDA Business Center – American Indian and Alaska Native program is a key component of MBDA’s overall portfolio of minority business development services, focusing on securing large public and/or private contracts and financing transactions, stimulating job creation and facilitating entry to global markets for “eligible minorityowned businesses.” For this purpose, business concerns that are owned or controlled by the following persons or groups of persons are eligible to receive business assistance services under the MBDA Business Center program: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans (including Alaska Natives, Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal entities), Asian Indian Americans and Hasidic Jewish Americans. See 15 CFR § 1400.1-.2 and Executive Order 11625. MBDA considers the term Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to encompass businesses owned or controlled by members of these groups. Although, the MBDA Business Center – American Indian and Alaska Native program serves the specific ethnic groups listed above, these Centers are designed to target American Indian and Alaska Native business enterprises.