§9501 Definitions

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter. Agency means the Minority Business Development Agency at the Department of Commerce. Community-based organization means what section 7801 of title 20 says. Eligible entity means a private sector group, a public sector group, or a Native entity, and it also can include a college or university. Federal agency means what “agency” means in section 551 of title 5. Federally recognized area of economic distress covers HUBZones, empowerment zones, HUD Promise Zones, HUD-designated low or moderate income areas, qualified opportunity zones, or other places the Under Secretary finds to be in economic distress. Institution of higher education means what section 1001 of title 20 says. MBDA Business Center is a center set up by the Agency to give technical business help to minority businesses. MBDA Business Center agreement is the legal deal between the Agency and a federal award recipient that sets how the center will run. Minority business enterprise is a business at least 51% owned and run by one or more socially or economically disadvantaged people; this can be for-profit or not and any revenue level. Native entity includes Tribal Governments, Alaska Native villages or corporations, Native Hawaiian organizations, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Private sector entity is any non-public group and does not include the Federal Government, a federal agency, or a federal instrumentality. Public sector entity includes a State, state agency, local government or agency, or a Native entity. Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce. Socially or economically disadvantaged business concern is a for-profit business mainly owned or controlled by disadvantaged individuals. Socially or economically disadvantaged individual means someone who faced racial, ethnic, or cultural bias or had less access to capital and credit because of group identity; the law presumes this includes Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and any group listed under part 1400 of title 15 as in effect on 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 means 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 section 5131 of title 25. Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development who administers this chapter.