[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 246 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78291-78292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30264]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; National 
Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards Program

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(C)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 20, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to the Stephen Boykin, MED Week Awards Manager, Minority 
Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 5090, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20230; telephone: 202-
482-1712; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal 
agency created exclusively to foster the establishment and growth of 
minority-owned businesses in the United States. For this purpose, a 
minority-owned business must be owned or controlled by one or of the 
following persons or groups of persons: African American, American 
Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Pacific 
Islander, Asian Indian, and Hasidic Jew. MBDA actively promotes the 
growth and competitiveness of large, medium, and small minority 
business enterprises by offering management and technical assistance 
through a network of regional and local business centers throughout the 
United States.

[[Page 78292]]

    One of MBDA's largest initiatives is the annual Regional and 
National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conferences. The 
conferences recognizes the role that minority entrepreneurs play in 
building the Nation's economy through the creation of jobs, products 
and services, in addition to supporting their local communities. It 
includes the private, non-profit, and government sectors and provides a 
venue to discuss critical business issues affecting minority business 
as well as strategies to foster the growth and competitiveness of the 
minority business community. The MED Week Awards Program is a key 
element of the conferences and celebrates the outstanding achievements 
of minority entrepreneurs. MBDA may make awards in the following 
categories: Minority Construction Firm of the Year, Minority 
Manufacturer of the Year, Minority Service Firm of the Year, Minority 
Technology Firm of the Year, Minority Supplier Distributer of the Year, 
Advocate of the Year, Media Award, Distinguished Supplier Diversity 
Award, Access to Capital Award, Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award, and 
the Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement. All awards with 
the exception of the Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award and the Abe 
Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement will be presented at both 
MBDA Regional and National MED Weeks. The Ronald H. Brown Leadership 
Award and the Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement will be 
presented only at National MED Week.
    Nominations for these awards are open to the public. MBDA must 
collect two types of information: (a) Information identifying the 
nominee and nominator, and (b) information explaining why the nominee 
should be given the award. The information will be used to determine 
those applicants best meeting the preannounced evaluation criterion. 
Use of a nomination form standardizes and limits the information 
collected as part of the nomination process. This makes the competition 
fair and eases the burden on applicants and reviewers. Participation in 
the MED Week Awards Program competition is voluntary and the awards are 
strictly honorary.

II. Method of Collection

    The form may be submitted electronically or paper format.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None (new collection).
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, state, local and tribal government, Federal 
government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Public: $0.

IV. Requests for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 16, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-30264 Filed 12-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P