Historically, many minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) have struggled to compete in mainstream business environments. In Delaware, among the variables contributing to this lack of competitive edge, three seem to be most intractable: the inability to efficiently access local information concerning procurement opportunities in the private or public sectors; the lack of comprehensive or uniform planning efforts on the part of local economic development organizations to assist M/WBEs through quality training, education, and networking activities; and limited knowledge of other local M/WBEs or other business entities with which they may establish a joint venture and/or subcontract.
To reduce the barriers to Delaware's M/WBE growth, the Delaware Small Business Exchange project will connect Delaware-based M/WBEs to employees within Delaware-based large corporations and state government agencies. The project will use an inclusive high tech and high touch cluster-based economic development platform, consisting of three major components: an Education Services component; a web-based wireless Business-to-Business (B-2-B) Exchange and a Business Events Facility; and an Employment Services component.
This economic development model will help to lower the cost of marketing for suppliers, provide a time-saving tool for buyers seeking competitive local vendors that can satisfy their organization's business needs, and provide marketing partners a community-owned resource to deliver their economic development products and services.
Co-founded as a non-profit corporation by two 501(c)3 approved non-profits, the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and Delaware Technology Park, DX-CEEDS is the primary manager and operator of Delaware Small Business Exchange. Partners include the Minority Supplier Development Council of PA-NJ-DE, the National Association of Women Business Owners-Delaware, Delaware Small Business Development Center Network, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, and the First State Community Loan Fund.
