“I am deeply troubled by the closure of the Washington State Minority Business Development Agency Business Center located in Tacoma, a valued federal resource for minority-owned businesses serving Washington state. I want to be clear; this closure was a direct result of the City of Tacoma’s Community & Economic Development Department receiving a ‘Notice of Grant Termination’ from the United States Department of Commerce on April 29, 2025, as well as ongoing uncertainty around future funding and program support at the federal level.
The Washington State Minority Business Development Agency Business Center in Tacoma helped strengthen our local, regional, and state economy. Undermining such efforts weakens this foundation, and is both shortsighted and unacceptable. We remain committed to working with our federal legislative partners in their quest to restore funding.
In the meantime, Tacoma will continue to support inclusive economic growth for Tacoma’s entrepreneurs through the City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department. We look forward to a time when we can, once again, partner with the federal government to advance this mission across Washington state through the Minority Business Development Agency.
We will continue to monitor federal executive orders and contract requirements closely. Should conditions change, I will work with my City Council colleagues to direct the City Manager to prepare a proposal supporting the relaunch of the Washington State Minority Business Development Agency Business Center in Tacoma. Until then, know that the City of Tacoma has appreciated the staff, the program, and its successful efforts over the years.”