§9501 Definitions

Summary

Defines the key words used in the chapter. Agency is the Minority Business Development Agency at the Department of Commerce. Community-based organization has the meaning used in federal education law. Eligible entity means a private sector group, a public sector group, or a Native entity, and it also includes colleges and universities. Federal agency has the meaning given in federal administrative law. Federally recognized area of economic distress covers HUBZones, empowerment zones or Promise Zones, HUD-designated low or moderate income areas, qualified opportunity zones, or any other area the Under Secretary finds to be distressed. Institution of higher education has the meaning used in federal education law. MBDA Business Center is a center the Agency sets up to give business help to minority businesses. MBDA Business Center agreement is the legal deal that sets the terms for how a recipient will run an MBDA Business Center. Minority business enterprise is a business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged individuals; that status is not lost because the business is non‑profit or because of its revenue. Native entity includes Tribal Governments, Alaska Native villages and corporations, Native Hawaiian organizations, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Private sector entity is any entity that is not a public sector entity and does not include the Federal Government. Public sector entity includes States, state agencies, political subdivisions and their agencies, and Native entities. Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce. Socially or economically disadvantaged business concern is a for‑profit business owned or controlled by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. Socially or economically disadvantaged individual means a person who faced racial, ethnic, or cultural bias or reduced capital or credit because of group identity, and it is presumed to include Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and any group listed by the Agency under part 1400 of title 15 as of November 23, 1984. Specialty center is an MBDA Business Center that focuses on specific needs like capital access, Federal procurement, entrepreneurship, or technology transfer. State lists each U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and each Tribal Government. Tribal Government means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe listed most recently as of November 15, 2021. Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, who administers this chapter.