Our Nation is guided by the simple promise that no matter
our origins, we can provide a better life for our children.
We have long believed in a fair America, where, with hard work
and determination, anyone can succeed. Our story has been
written by generations who have put their shoulders to the
wheel of history to move our country forward.
Today, this legacy continues. Our strength comes from
individuals from all walks of life, and of every race and creed.
Minority-owned businesses are engines of job creation and
backbones of communities across America -- from Main Street
to Wall Street, and from country markets to Silicon Valley.
They are on the cutting edge of development, and are strong
competitors at home and abroad. Small businesses, including
minority-owned enterprises, are where most new jobs begin.
To recover from this economic crisis and improve our
competitiveness, we must help these job creators hire,
grow, and revitalize our economy.
My Administration is working to make this growth a reality.
Our Start-up America initiative connects established private
sector mentors to entrepreneurs, helping accelerate innovation
through coordination. Last year, I signed the Small Business
Jobs Act, providing billions of dollars in lending support and
tax cuts for small businesses. The Federal Government is also
the Nation's largest purchaser of goods and services, and every
Federal agency is taking aggressive steps to improve contracting
with small businesses, including minority-owned firms.
Even in challenging times, American entrepreneurs
consistently respond to adversity with brighter ideas,
more ambitious innovations, and smarter technology than the
world has ever seen. These businesses create jobs and support
our communities. As a Nation, we must continue to remove
barriers to these opportunities, and ensure they remain open
to all Americans.
The task of making America more competitive is a job for
everyone. To build an economy that lasts, we must all work
to create the well-paying jobs that will sustain us. During
Minority Enterprise Development Week, we honor minority
enterprises as vital to our economic success, and recommit to
ensuring minority business owners have the information, tools,
and resources they need to help America win the future.

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 September 25, 2011, through October 1, 2011, as
Minority Enterprise Development Week. ...