Washington MBDA Business Center

07/01/2025

The Washington Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center is no longer operated by the City of Tacoma. For inquiries after June 30, 2025, and for Washington State specific inquiries, please visit the national office online at https://www.mbda.gov/. Former business clients may contact the City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department at (253) 591-5364. For Equity in Contracting opportunities, follow the City of Tacoma’s social media channels or visit makeittacoma.com.

06/10/2025

Calling All Small Businesses: OMWBE Certified, Self-Certified, Certified Veteran Owned, Grant County Local Contractors!

Register with:
Stephanie Caldwell
Small Business Program Administrator
[email protected]

For the Following Project Involvement on the
New Ephrata Service Center
Owner: Grant County Public Utility District
When: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location:
Absher Construction’s Wenatchee Office
123 Easy St, Suite 3A
Wenatchee, WA 98801

Background:
The New Ephrata Service Center will replace the existing service center in Ephrata, WA, which has reached the end of it useful service life, possessing inadequacies that cannot be mitigated with facility renovations or upgrades. The new, roughly 240,000 square foot Center will be comprised of multiple facilities housing the following functions: Warehouse, Substation and Line Crew Shops, Electronics and Meter Relay Shops, Maintenance Bays, Administration Offices, Data Center, Vehicle Wash and Fuel Island.

It is anticipated that the Center will require development
of approximately 34 acres. The project scope will also include all required infrastructure and offsite improvements necessary to support a fully functional Service Center.

06/10/2025

Your invited to Korsmo Construction’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Luncheon. This special event brings their team, partners, and community together to reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth and honor the ongoing pursuit of freedom and equality.
This year, Korsmo Construction welcomes Desiree’ Wilkins Finch—CEO/Executive Director of Tacoma Urban League and founder of Tacoma Black Fund—as our guest speaker. Desiree’ will also lead an interactive session to spark meaningful conversation.
Lunch will be provided by the talented students from the Foss High School Culinary Program.
We’d be honored to have you join us for an afternoon of community, reflection, and celebration.
Date: June 12th
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: Korsmo Construction, 1940 E D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421
Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/iRrD1EwhNv

05/19/2025

Emerald Cities is launching an Accessing Capital for Contractors workshop series sponsored by the Washington State Microenterprise Association (Wsma Washington) and BECU. This workshop series is intended to be hands-on and interactive for participants and will be targeted towards helping firms in the construction industry prepare for the financing journey. Please register for any and each session of interest!

Foundations of Credit
Date: 5/29
Time: 3-4:30pm
Location: 7100 Fort Dent Way, Suite 100, Tukwila, WA 98188

RSVP: https://formstack.io/1D5DC
•Discuss importance of good credit when seeking out financing
•Discuss personal credit best practices, how to improve credit score and dispute an error
•How to establish business credit
•Interactive: How to download your own free credit report - Bring your Laptop!
How Lenders Look at Cash Flow
Date: 6/5
Time: 3-4:30pm
Location: 7100 Fort Dent Way, Suite 100, Tukwila, WA 98188

RSVP: https://formstack.io/5E17F
•Lending terms
•How to calculate cash flow
•What is debt service coverage ratio and what is the minimum financeable ratio?
•Interactive: Calculate your own cash flow ratio- Bring your laptop & financials!
Cash Flow Comparison
Date: 6/12
Time: 3-4:30pm
Location: 7100 Fort Dent Way, Suite 100, Tukwila, WA 98188

RSVP: https://formstack.io/48A91
•Discuss the different types of financial ratios and what they mean
•Discuss how ratios can help us compare firms of different sizes
•Interactive: Compare your financials to thenational average - Bring your laptop &financials!

Lenders Panel
Date: 6/19
Time: 3-5pm
Location: 7100 Fort Dent Way, Suite 100, Tukwila, WA 98188

RSVP: https://formstack.io/40918
•Hear directly from lenders about their criteria
•Learn about financing options available
•Opportunity to ask questions of lenders
•Networking with other contractors
•Info tables available with info on energy efficiency incentives and lender info

05/15/2025

Don't miss these two upcoming classes

1. Office of Minority & Women Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certification. Participants are encouraged to start their OMWBE application before the 201 class and also bring their laptop with the intention of submitting their application by the end of the class. In person is recommended but online is available. The registration link is below:

201 Registration: https://forms.office.com/g/jisvQA71ud?origin=lprLink

If there are any questions before this class, contact:
Linda M. Cerna
EIC Outreach Specialist
Community & Economic Development
Equity in Contracting Program
(253) 453-9488
[email protected]
[email protected]

2. Certified Public Accountant led Business Taxes class on June 10. This session aims to provide critical information and practical resources that can help business owners navigate tax requirements with more confidence and clarity –

The class will cover the following topics:
• Business Tax Preparation and Compliance
• Financial Management Best Practices
• Business/Personal Expense Management
• Modern Financial Systems and Automation
• Common Tax Filing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Importance of Separating Personal and Business Finances
Business Taxes -
📅 June 10th, 2025
🕐 9AM-12PM
📍 747 Market Street Tacoma, 98402 Room #243
🔗 Register https://forms.office.com/g/bjG5W5L8en?origin=lprLink

04/03/2025

Bolstering the transportation workforce, the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) will explore methods of engaging with communities traditionally underrepresented in the transportation field. Washington State Department of Transportation will focus on their statewide high school program and COMTO National will provide information regarding their CITY (Careers in Transportation for Youth) internship program.

Join this webinar to gain valuable insights and tools that can help you make a meaningful impact in the transportation industry.

When: Tuesday, Apr 8, 2025 10:00 AM

Register Here:

The primary aim of this webinar is to share valuable information about diverse outreach efforts designed to bolster the transportation workforce. By addressing key areas of engagement, we hope to inspire innovative approaches and forge connections that can enrich attendees' outreach strategies. The....

04/01/2025

Please see the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County (EDB) Tariff & Trade Resilience Toolkit: https://choosetacomapierce.org/wp-content/uploads/Trade-Tariff-Toolbox-April-2025.pdf, designed specifically to support Puget Sound businesses as they navigate international trade and tariff challenges.

For More Information: https://mbdawashington.com/puget-sound-tariff-toolkit-navigating-international-trade/

02/21/2025

The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County invites you to join them for an important webinar on “Navigating Tariff Impacts on Washington Businesses: Strategies for Resilience & Growth” on February 27, 2025, at 12:00 PM (PST).

This webinar, hosted by the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County (EDB), Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Snohomish County Economic Alliance will provide valuable insights into how upcoming tariff changes could impact businesses in Washington and what strategies can help mitigate risks.

Why Attend?
• Gain insights from industry and trade experts on current tariff policies and their effects on businesses like yours.
• Learn proactive strategies to navigate trade disruptions and financial challenges.
• Access resources and funding opportunities to support exports and supply chain adjustments.
• Participate in a Q&A session with experts from the SBA, WA Department of Commerce, and more.

Event Details: Navigating Tariff Impacts on Washington Businesses
Date: February 27, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM (PST)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-tariff-impacts-on-washington-businesses-tickets-1249557483069?aff=oddtdtcreator

They encourage you to register early as space is limited. This is a great opportunity to stay ahead of potential trade challenges and ensure your business remains competitive.

Strategies for Resilience & Growth

02/21/2025

Business credit masterclass by

✅ Finesse My Business Finances is a FREE masterclass designed to help you move beyond survival mode and into financial finesse. If you’ve been wondering how to separate personal and business finances, access funding, or leverage credit without falling into debt traps, this is your moment!

📅 Date: February 26, 2025
📍 Location: Rice Fergus Miller, Bremerton
💻 Attend in person OR virtually (Replay available for all registrants!)

🔗 Reserve Your Spot Now: https://bit.ly/4309GSl

You'll gain insights to:
✔ Understand your numbers and make informed business decisions.
✔ Learn how to access business funding WITHOUT risking your personal finances.
✔ Separate business & personal credit to create financial stability and credibility.
✔ Master the keys to leveraging credit to grow your business the RIGHT way.
This is your exclusive invitation to gain financial clarity and confidence, for free—but spots are limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Join Matchstick Lab and Jenefeness Franke, MBA to take control of your business finances and scale with confidence.

02/18/2025

Calling all diverse, and small firms in construction! Join us to hear directly from Port project managers about upcoming construction projects! At this webinar you will receive information about projects to help you determine whether you want to pursue them and how, as well as network with potential collaborators.

Please register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/wcmvmmv

Online Webinar: Link is available upon registration!

Construction projects to be presented:
Compactor Capacity at Gate E-100 Area Airport: $2M
WMBE Goal: TBD

Airport Food and Beverage Introductory Kiosks: $3.55M
WMBE Goal: 15% Aspirational Goal

North Employee Parking Lot (NEPL) Improvements Phase III: $3M – $6M
WMBE Goal: TBD

02/07/2025

KJ is seeking qualified DBE subconsultants for: Wetlands; Endangered Species, Federal/EPA Cross-Cutting Regulation Compliance (National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act); Survey, Easements; Arborist; Landscaping.
Project: PLATEAU WELLS PFAS TREATMENT DESIGN Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District

More Information: https://mrscrosters.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/169380

Project Description:
Sammamish Plateau Water (aka Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District) is seeking qualifications from consultants to provide design services for the construction of PFAS Treatment Facilities for the treatment of water produced from three existing groundwater wells, which are located on three separate tax parcels. For the Project's design work, the District has procured Federal funding, acting through the USEPA's Community Grant program, and selection of all consultants and subconsultants (aka Contractors as defined by the EPA) shall be in accordance with 40 CFR Part 33. In addition to the treatment facility's design, the work will need to meet EPA's cross-cutting regulations, and include pilot testing, critical areas studies, permitting, arborist study, storm water treatment and detention, and landscaping.

02/04/2025

"The Best is Yet to Come!" This online event will showcase the growth, learning, and success of our Cohort 5 Capacity Building Mentorship Program members.

Reserve your spot here: https://bit.ly/Registration_CBMP_Cohort5 and Join us for an inspiring virtual graduation ceremony filled with speeches, awards, and special testimonies. Let's come together to cheer on our graduates and show our support for their future endeavors. Don't miss out on this memorable event!