(Washington, DC) National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), in partnership with the Department of Employment Services, will launch a new Minority Business Development Center (MBDC) on Wednesday, April 14, 2004. The Center is designed to support the development of minority-owned businesses in the Washington Metropolitan Area. NCRC is also partnering with the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business to provide technical services and research.

The Center will provide four primary services: delivering business consulting services to clients, facilitating access to capital through financing resources and procurement programs, brokering that identifies areas for partnerships and advocating for increased minority business development in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area.

	Who:	Mayor Anthony A. Williams John Taylor, President and CEO National Community Reinvestment Coalition Gregg Irish, Director, Department of Employment Services Mark Grovic, Deputy Director, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
	What:	Grand Opening of the Minority Business Development Center
	When:	Wednesday, April 14, 2004 10 am Program and Ribbon Cutting 11 am to 2 pm Tour and Open House
	Where:	64 New York Avenue NE 2nd and 3rd floors Washington, DC 20002
	Contact:	(202) 671-2100