[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 32 (Monday, August 15, 1994)]
[Page 1655]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6713--Minority Enterprise Development Week, 1994

August 9, 1994

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Growth and development in the minority business community are 
crucial to the social fabric, as well as to the overall economy, of this 
Nation. While racial and ethnic minorities constitute over 26 percent of 
the total U.S. population--a proportion that is constantly growing--
minority citizens continue to be underrepresented in commerce and 
industry.
    This lack of representation results in losses of opportunities and 
in losses to the American economy. This can and must be rectified. Every 
individual has a contribution to make and deserves to participate fully 
in the public and private sectors of the United States, without regard 
to racial or ethnic origin.
    Minority business development is an essential element in helping to 
enable every American to become a full participant in the economic life 
of our country. Minority entrepreneurs often face tremendous odds on the 
road to success. However, the assistance and encouragement of our 
Government is available to all of our citizens. This includes up-to-date 
information regarding market opportunities, increased capital for 
business expansion, advice and experience in business management, and 
recognition of the quality goods and services minority-owned firms can 
provide.
    Commerce in America is at a watershed: to achieve economic security, 
we must eliminate old ways of doing business and initiate practices that 
are inclusive. Discriminatory and exclusionary practices have no place 
in our Nation. Ours has always been a society comprised of minorities; 
diversity is our strength. And everyone must be included in this 
country's economic team.
    We are definitely on the right track, as the economic policies of 
this Administration have already resulted in renewed economic growth 
that has generated 3.5 million new private-sector jobs for our citizens. 
And with the unemployment rates of our minority citizens showing 
improvement as well, this means we are producing more jobs for those 
Americans who have too often been excluded from the mainstream of our 
society. But more remains to be done, and we will need to look to 
minority businesspeople to become a cornerstone of an urban renaissance, 
creating even more jobs where we most need them. Minority business 
development is one place where a small investment can yield tremendous 
dividends.
    Minority Enterprise Development Week highlights the benefits of 
commercial and economic expansion for minorities and offers us an 
opportunity to acknowledge the growing number of successful minority 
entrepreneurs and to pledge support for continued growth.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the 
Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week 
of October 9 through October 15, 1994, as ``Minority Enterprise 
Development Week.'' I call on the people of the United States to 
recognize the contributions that minority-owned businesses make to the 
well-being of this Nation and to observe this occasion with appropriate 
ceremonies.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of 
August, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-four, and of 
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
nineteenth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:19 a.m., August 10, 
1994]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on August 
11.