HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK — October 2, 2026 — The countdown is officially on.
In just six days, entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials, corporate representatives, procurement professionals, financial institutions and community stakeholders will gather for the inaugural day of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) 2026 Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Month activities.
The opening celebration will take place:
Thursday, October 8, 2026
6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Town of Hempstead Pavilion
One Washington Street
Hempstead, New York 11550
Click on link here to register: www.tinyurl.com/MedMonthOct2026
Under the 2026 theme, "Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise," the opening program will focus attention on one of the region's most important economic-development priorities: ensuring minority-owned businesses have greater access to the capital, contracts, information, relationships and opportunities needed to grow sustainable enterprises.
A NATIONAL LEGACY MORE THAN FOUR DECADES STRONG
The roots of Minority Enterprise Development reach back more than four decades.
On August 11, 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5083, officially designating October 2–8, 1983, as Minority Enterprise Development Week. The proclamation recognized minority entrepreneurs for their contributions to America's economic well-being through business ownership, innovation, job creation and workforce development.
At a White House ceremony on October 3, 1983, Reagan marked what he described as the first annual Minority Enterprise Development Week and emphasized the role minority business ownership could play in economic and social progress.
More than 40 years later, the fundamental mission remains relevant: expand entrepreneurship, strengthen businesses, increase economic participation and create pathways toward greater economic independence.
LIAACC PIONEERS MED PROGRAMMING ON LONG ISLAND
The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. has taken that national legacy and developed it into an increasingly important regional platform for minority entrepreneurship.
LIAACC launched its inaugural Minority Enterprise Development Week program at Hempstead Town Hall in 2021, bringing together minority entrepreneurs, government officials, business advocates and community stakeholders. The Chamber subsequently expanded its MED programming with activities focused on business growth, government contracting, certification, access to capital, supplier diversity, networking and capacity building.
For 2026, LIAACC has expanded the observance into Minority Enterprise Development Month, creating a broader October platform for education, recognition, relationship building and economic empowerment.
This evolution represents an important step in LIAACC's continuing effort to ensure that MED is more than a celebration it is a vehicle for connecting entrepreneurs with opportunities.
FROM RECOGNITION TO ECONOMIC IMPACT
MED Month's growing regional impact can be seen in the diverse business ecosystem it brings together.
Entrepreneurs gain opportunities to meet government representatives, corporate supplier-diversity professionals, procurement specialists, financial institutions, business-development organizations and other entrepreneurs.
Past and current MED programming has focused on critical areas including access to capital, MWBE certification, government contracting, corporate procurement, supplier diversity, technical assistance, capacity building, professional networking and strategic partnerships.
The goal is to transform introductions into relationships, relationships into opportunities, and opportunities into sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs, strengthening communities and building generational wealth.
OCTOBER 8: WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPARATION
The October 8 opening program at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion is designed to bring multiple parts of the minority-business ecosystem into one room.
Attendees can expect opportunities for professional networking, minority business recognition, business-development information, procurement and supplier-diversity resources, access-to-capital information and connections with organizations committed to strengthening minority enterprise.
The message behind MED Month 2026 is clear:
Minority business development is not simply about celebrating how far minority entrepreneurs have come. It is about building the infrastructure, relationships and opportunities necessary to determine how far they can go.
SIX DAYS — ONE POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY
With only six days remaining until the inaugural program, LIAACC is encouraging minority- and women-owned businesses, MWBEs, entrepreneurs, startups, established companies, corporate executives, procurement professionals, financial institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, professionals and community stakeholders from throughout Long Island and the New York metropolitan region to participate.
The October 8 gathering represents an opportunity to connect, learn, build relationships and become part of a movement that traces its national roots to 1983 while continuing to evolve to meet the needs of today's entrepreneurs.
Historic October 8 Opening at Town of Hempstead Pavilion Continues a National Tradition Dating Back to 1983 and LIAACC's Pioneering MED Movement on Long Island
Under the 2026 theme, "Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise," the opening program will focus attention on one of the region's most important economic-development priorities: ensuring minority-owned businesses have greater access to the capital, contracts, information, relationships and opportunities needed to grow sustainable enterprises.
LIAACC PIONEERS MED PROGRAMMING ON LONG ISLAND
The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. has taken that national legacy and developed it into an increasingly important regional platform for minority entrepreneurship.
For 2026, LIAACC has expanded the observance into Minority Enterprise Development Month, creating a broader October platform for education, recognition, relationship building and economic empowerment.
This evolution represents an important step in LIAACC's continuing effort to ensure that MED is more than a celebration it is a vehicle for connecting entrepreneurs with opportunities.
FROM RECOGNITION TO ECONOMIC IMPACT
MED Month's growing regional impact can be seen in the diverse business ecosystem it brings together.
Entrepreneurs gain opportunities to meet government representatives, corporate supplier-diversity professionals, procurement specialists, financial institutions, business-development organizations and other entrepreneurs.
Past and current MED programming has focused on critical areas including access to capital, MWBE certification, government contracting, corporate procurement, supplier diversity, technical assistance, capacity building, professional networking and strategic partnerships.
The goal is to transform introductions into relationships, relationships into opportunities, and opportunities into sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs, strengthening communities and building generational wealth.
OCTOBER 8: WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPARATION
The October 8 opening program at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion is designed to bring multiple parts of the minority-business ecosystem into one room.
Attendees can expect opportunities for professional networking, minority business recognition, business-development information, procurement and supplier-diversity resources, access-to-capital information and connections with organizations committed to strengthening minority enterprise.
The message behind MED Month 2026 is clear:
Minority business development is not simply about celebrating how far minority entrepreneurs have come. It is about building the infrastructure, relationships and opportunities necessary to determine how far they can go.
SIX DAYS — ONE POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY
With only six days remaining until the inaugural program, LIAACC is encouraging minority- and women-owned businesses, MWBEs, entrepreneurs, startups, established companies, corporate executives, procurement professionals, financial institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, professionals and community stakeholders from throughout Long Island and the New York metropolitan region to participate.
The October 8 gathering represents an opportunity to connect, learn, build relationships and become part of a movement that traces its national roots to 1983 while continuing to evolve to meet the needs of today's entrepreneurs.
The countdown has begun.
Six days. One room. New relationships. New opportunities. A stronger future for minority enterprise.
ABOUT: LONG ISLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.
The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. works to strengthen small and minority-owned businesses through advocacy, education, networking, technical assistance, strategic partnerships and access to economic opportunities.
Through Minority Enterprise Development Month and its year-round business-development initiatives, LIAACC continues working to connect entrepreneurs with the information, relationships, resources and opportunities necessary to build stronger and more sustainable businesses.
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