Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce selected for prestigious Minority Business Assistance Center

August 16, 2023

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce has been awarded a two-year contract by the Ohio Department of Development Minority Business Division to host the Dayton Region Tier 2 Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC). The primary goal of the MBAC is to identify emerging minority-owned (MBEs), women-owned (WBEs) and veteran-owned businesses (VBEs) and cultivate growth and sustainability.

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Partnership (MBP) has a long-standing tradition of championing diverse business development and collaboration throughout a 14 county region which overlaps the 12 county region of the Dayton Region MBAC. The MBP has programs such as 20/40, Project Enginuity and newly launched Project Accelerate. Both the MBP and the MBAC will have coordinated efforts to support area businesses.

“MBEs, WBEs and VBEs have grown in stride throughout the last decade under our Minority Business Partnership programs and collaborations,” explained Belinda Matthews Stenson, Vice President, Business Inclusion for the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. “Integrating in the MBAC will further strengthen our diverse businesses.”

Jelani Johnson, will be leading as the regional director of the Dayton Region Tier 2 MBAC.

“We are truly honored to have been selected to host the Minority Business Assistance Center for the next two years,” said Jelani Johnson, regional director, Dayton Region Tier 2 Minority Business Assistance Center. “Collectively, our MBEs, WBEs and VBEs will continue to have an advocate and a partner in the Miami Valley region with the ability to leverage the proven business and personal development resources of the chamber and the support of the Minority Business Partnership with the intention of uplifting our diverse business communities.”

Johnson added, “This collaboration not only underscores our ongoing commitment to serving the diverse needs of our business community but also provides us with an opportunity to further empower minority businesses, drive innovation and create lasting economic impact.”

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce invites diverse businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators to learn more about the MBAC by visiting https://development.ohio.gov/business/minority-business/minority-business-assistance-centers.