[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 33 (Monday, February 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10544-10545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; National Minority Business Awards

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, Regular submission.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB. The National Minority 
Business Awards Program is a key element of Minority Enterprise 
Development Week and celebrates the outstanding achievements of 
minority entrepreneurs.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before April 23, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Minority Business Development Agency PRA Officer at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adfdffeccec2c0c0c8c3d9deedc9c2ce83cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7e7e5f6d4d8dadad2d9c3c4f7d3d8d499d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference OMB Control Number 0640-0025 in 
the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business 
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Antavia Grimsley, Management Analyst, Minority Business Development 
Agency, Room 5063, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; 
telephone (202)482-7458, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7b3a3c09121608171e024a3b16191f1a551c140d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94d5d3e6fdf9e7f8f1eda5d4f9f6f0f5baf3fbe2">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the only federal 
agency created exclusively to foster the growth and global 
competitiveness of minority-owned businesses in the United States. For 
this purpose, a minority owned business must be owned or controlled by 
one of the following persons or group of persons: African American, 
American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, 
Pacific Islander, Asian Indian, and Hasidic Jew. MBDA provides 
management and technical assistance to large, medium, and small 
minority business enterprises through a network of business centers 
throughout the United States.
    Since 1983, every president has issued a Presidential Proclamation 
designating one week as National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) 
Week. MBDA recognizes the role that minority entrepreneurs play in 
building the Nation's economy by honoring businesses that are making a 
significant contribution through the creation of jobs, products and 
services, in addition to supporting their local communities. The 
National Minority Business Awards Program is a key element of MED Week 
and celebrates the outstanding achievements of minority entrepreneurs. 
MBDA may make awards in the following categories: Minority Construction 
Firm of the Year, Minority Export Firm of the Year, Minority 
Manufacturing Firm of the Year, Minority E-Commerce Firm of the Year, 
Minority Emerging Technologies and Industries Firm of the Year, 
Minority Health Products and Services Firm of the Year, Minority 
Marketing and Communications Firm of the Year, Firm of the Year, 
Minority Veteran-Owned Firm of the Year, and Robert J. Brown Minority 
Business Enterprise of the Year. In addition, MBDA may recognize 
trailblazers and champions through the Access to Capital Award, 
Advocate of the Year Award, Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award, Abe 
Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and Ronald H. Brown 
Leadership Awards. All awards will be presented at a ceremony during 
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 National Minority Business Awards competition is 
voluntary and the awards are strictly honorary.

[[Page 10545]]

II. Method of Collection

    The MBDA uses several forms of data collection: by mail, hand 
delivery, fax, or electronic delivery when the MBDA staff presents 
questions to the MBDA Business Center clients.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0640-0025.
    Form Number(s): Not applicable.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations, not-
for-profit institutions, State, Local, or Tribal government, and 
Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 250.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-03433 Filed 2-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P


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