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MBN USA

May 28, 2022

America’s road to prosperity: minority business community

By U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo

As we come to the end of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, I want to take the time to recognize the vast contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history, culture, and the economy of the United States. The AANHPI communities, some of the fastest-growing racial and ethnic groups, represent different ethnicities, languages, and experiences enriching America and strengthening our Nation. Here at Commerce, we have nearly 6,000 AANHPI employees. I want to thank each one of you for your commitment to serving our nation and for your continued advocacy for AANHPI businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

I believe that America’s road to prosperity runs through our minority business community and every person should have an equal opportunity to thrive. Equity continues to underpin everything we do at the Commerce Department. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to supporting and investing in AANHPI communities while also combating the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes. Together, we must support and uplift the AANHPI community and secure an equitable and prosperous future for them and all Americans.

In honor of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a few of the Commerce Department’s many diverse bureaus worked together to recognize and celebrate this community’s wide range of accomplishments by highlighting AANHPI leaders who have made a lasting impact in data collection, STEM, entrepreneurship, and invention.

Take a moment to read these powerful blogs.

Celebrating Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Inventors and Entrepreneurs

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Honoring a Leader in Data Collection

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month: NOAA Scientist and NIST Mathematician Lead Efforts in Ecology, Data Encryption

Please also see some of the outstanding AANHPI employees highlighted this month in our spotlight series.

If you have not already, please take time to read our released the Strategic Plan for 2022-2026. Fostering innovation through equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion is a core tenet of this strategy.

BUREAUS AND OFFICES

U.S. Census Bureau

Economic Development Administration

National Institute of Standards and Technology

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office