SweetGrass Trading Company recently received a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Certification from the Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council (MPMSDC) for 2023. The certification created many opportunities for growth and networking in 2022, and we are excited to see what we can accomplish as an MBE moving forward.
What is the MBE Certification?
The MBE Certification is awarded to businesses with at least 51 percent ownership by a minority group or individual, including United States citizens who are Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic and/or Native American.
SweetGrass Trading Company is part of Ho-Chunk Trading Group, a division of Ho-Chunk, Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
To become certified, applicants must submit a detailed application and upload business documents that show that the company meets the MBE requirements. The applicant must also complete an in-depth interview and site visit with an MPMSDC Certification Specialist and be approved by the committee and board members. The certification is good for one year and can be renewed every year if a business continues to meet the certification requirements.
What is the Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council (MPMSDC)?
The MPMSDC is one of 23 regional councils and serves Colorado, Kansas, Western Missouri, and Nebraska. According to the organization’s website, “The mission of the Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council is to provide Corporate America and Government entities with greater access to the goods and services of Minority-owned business in order to develop lasting and mutually beneficial business relationships.”
The MPMSDC connects minority-owned businesses, both big and small, with Corporate America . There are currently more than 500 minority-owned businesses certified with the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Through the council’s extensive certification process, Corporate Member support, free networking events, educational programs, and supplier diversity initiatives, the MPMSDC strives to develop minority-owned businesses to their full potential.