[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8912--NOV. 30, 2012

Proclamation 8912 of November 30, 2012

Minority Enterprise Development Week, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

At the core of who we are as a Nation is a fundamental belief: that no
matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter where you
come from, if you have an idea and a willingness to work hard, you can
succeed. It is this belief that leads a worker to leave a job to become
her own boss, propels a basement inventor to sell a new product, or
drives an amateur chef to open a restaurant. It is this belief that has
drawn millions to our shores and spurred America's prosperity for
centuries.
The belief in tomorrow's promise is guiding minority entrepreneurs
across our country to start the kinds of businesses that make up the
backbone of our economy. With a combined economic output of $1 trillion,
minority-owned firms are key producers in an array of industries, hubs
of innovation and new technology, and engines of job creation in our
communities.
Because the continued growth and success of minority enterprises is
essential to our economic recovery, my Administration has taken steps to
help bolster these businesses. Through the Minority Business Development
Agency, we are providing access to capital, consulting, contracts, and
markets to minority entrepreneurs seeking to expand their businesses at
home and overseas. We are also making it easier for business owners to
find Federal resources with www.BusinessUSA.gov, a centralized, one-stop
platform for businesses to access services to help them grow and hire.
As the number and size of minority-owned firms continue to expand, we
must harness the diversity and power of these businesses to help
strengthen our economy and put people back to work. As we celebrate the
30th anniversary of Minority Enterprise Development Week, let us honor
the role America's minority-owned businesses play in spurring our
prosperity and recommit to equipping them with the tools for success in
the 21st century.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2 through
December 8, 2012, as Minority Enterprise Development Week. I call upon
all Americans to celebrate this week with appropriate programs,
ceremonies, and activities to recognize the many contributions of our
Nation's minority enterprises.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and


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of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.
BARACK OBAMA