LI African Chamber Commerce Builds On Strong 2026 Momentun As MED Month Kicks Off Oct. 8th, 2026

HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK — September 2026 — The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) is building on nine months of business development, leadership expansion, networking, entrepreneurship and regional collaboration as it prepares for the First Day of Activities for Minority Enterprise Development Month (MED) Month 2026, Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York 11550.

Registration is available online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-access-to-ownership-signals-the-next-era-of-minority-enterprise-tickets-1993718709329?aff=oddtdtcreator

This year’s theme is:

“Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise”

The October 8 opening program will bring together entrepreneurs, business owners, government officials, procurement professionals, corporate representatives, higher-education leaders, nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders for an evening centered on creating stronger pathways to contracts, capital, business resources, strategic relationships and sustainable growth.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

LIAACC has assembled a diverse group of leaders representing government, supplier diversity, economic development, and entrepreneurial support which iclude:

Dilip Chauhan
Deputy Chief Business Diversity Officer and Senior Advisor for MWBE Business Opportunities
NYC Mayor’s Office of MWBE

Jason M. Clark, Esq.
Executive Vice President
Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development
Empire State Development

Orville Abrahams
Deputy Commissioner, Business Advocacy and Engagement
New York State Department of Labor

Jimmy Alty
Manager, Supplier Diversity
PSEG Long Island

Lauren Linakis
Assistant Director
Farmingdale State College

Nancy Soko-Askew
Executive Director
The Women’s Venture Fund

The speaker lineup gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to hear directly from individuals working in areas that can affect the growth of small and minority-owned businesses, including MWBE development, government resources, supplier diversity, workforce development, education and entrepreneurial assistance.

JANUARY to SEPTEMBER 2026: A YEAR OF ACTION AND EXPANSION

The 2026 MED Month celebration comes during another active year for the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce.

Building upon the momentum of its milestone 15th anniversary, LIAACC entered 2026 focused on expanding its membership, strengthening business relationships and increasing the Chamber’s ability to connect entrepreneurs with opportunities.

Among the Chamber’s January–September 2026 highlights:

• Expanded Membership Outreach: LIAACC launched its 2026 membership campaign under the banner “Connect, Grow, Lead,” encouraging entrepreneurs, corporate professionals and established business owners to become part of a regional network focused on economic advancement and generational wealth.
• Business Networking and Relationship Building: The Chamber continued creating spaces where entrepreneurs and professionals could establish relationships, exchange information and develop new business connections, including an upscale networking gathering in Westbury during the spring.
• National Entrepreneur Summit and Expo — New York Edition: On June 11, the Chamber joined organizational partners in presenting a major regional entrepreneurship event in Queens that brought together entrepreneurs, small-business owners, corporate representatives, exhibitors, nonprofit leaders and community stakeholders for networking, education and business development. Participants came from Nassau, Suffolk, New York City and throughout the greater metropolitan region.
• Strengthened Nassau County Leadership: In June, LIAACC appointed Ann Dumay as Nassau County Director, strengthening the Chamber’s leadership infrastructure and its ability to advance business-development programming and relationships throughout Nassau County.
• Launch of the Young Professionals Network: In August, LIAACC expanded its leadership-development mission by launching its Young Professionals Network (YPN), designed to connect emerging professionals and entrepreneurs with mentorship, business resources, leadership development and relationships with experienced business and community leaders.

These initiatives demonstrate why MED Month arrives at an important point in LIAACC’s 2026 calendar: the Chamber is not beginning a conversation about minority enterprise in October it is building upon work carried out throughout the year.

Annually Minority Enterprise Development Month Attracts Small Businesses, Professionals, Government Entities, Professionals, and Financial Institutions Across the region in Support of MED Month

WHY ATTENDING MED MONTH MATTERS

Minority Enterprise Development Month is designed to move beyond simply recognizing minority-owned businesses.

It is intended to bring the people who need opportunities into the same environment as individuals and institutions that can help explain, facilitate and expand access to those opportunities.

For entrepreneurs, October 8 represents an opportunity to build relationships before they are needed, learn how major institutions approach supplier diversity and MWBE participation, discover business-development resources, meet fellow entrepreneurs and increase the visibility of their businesses.

For corporations, government agencies, financial institutions, colleges, nonprofits and established business leaders, supporting MED Month is an opportunity to participate directly in strengthening the regional small-business ecosystem.

A strong minority-business sector can contribute to job creation, entrepreneurship, community investment, business ownership and the development of the next generation of entrepreneurs.

FROM ACCESS TO RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO OPPORTUNITY

rings entrepreneurs into meaningful relationships with the people, institutions and resources that can help businesses grow,” said Phil Andrews

“Minority Enterprise Development Month must be more than a celebration. It must be a platform that brings entrepreneurs into meaningful relationships with the people, institutions and resources that can help businesses grow,” said Phil Andrews

“Minority Enterprise Development Month must be more than a celebration. It must be a platform that brings entrepreneurs into meaningful relationships with the people, institutions and resources that can help businesses grow,” said Phil Andrews, President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

“Our work from January through September demonstrates that economic empowerment requires consistent engagement throughout the year. On October 8, we are asking entrepreneurs to show up, build relationships, exchange information and position themselves for future opportunities.

We are also asking corporations, government agencies, institutions and community partners to support MED Month because strengthening minority enterprise strengthens the economic fabric of the entire region.”

“MED Month will continue to fuel the growth of small business in New York State well into the future. The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.’s insight and knowledge of resources in New York State gives the chamber a unique advantage of helping its small business owners who are members of the chamber, and its wider network grow to scale.

A CALL TO THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY

LIAACC is encouraging minority- and women-owned businesses, MWBEs, startups, established companies, young professionals, corporate procurement representatives, financial institutions, government agencies, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, colleges, universities and community stakeholders from Long Island, New York City and throughout the metropolitan region to participate.

Attendees should come prepared to introduce their businesses, exchange contact information, learn about available resources and begin relationships that can continue well beyond October 8. 20266.

The Chamber is also calling upon organizations committed to entrepreneurship, supplier diversity and economic development to support MED Month through attendance, partnerships, sponsorships, resource sharing and continued engagement with minority-owned businesses.

EVENT DETAILS

Minority Enterprise Development Month 2026 — First Day of Activities

Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Location: Town of Hempstead Pavilion
Address: One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York 11550

Registration is available online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-access-to-ownership-signals-the-next-era-of-minority-enterprise-tickets-1993718709329?aff=oddtdtcreator

2026 Theme: “Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise”

Registration and additional MED Month information are available through the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce events page.

ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.

Founded in 2010, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) works to advance entrepreneurship and strengthen small and minority-owned businesses through business education, advocacy, networking, technical assistance, leadership development, access-to-capital information, procurement awareness and strategic partnerships.

As the Chamber moves forward following its 15th anniversary milestone, LIAACC continues expanding programs designed to connect entrepreneurs with the relationships, information and opportunities necessary to build sustainable businesses and create lasting economic impact.

MEDIA CONTACT

Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Garden City, New York
Email: info@liaacc.org

Registration and Event Information:
Visit the LIAACC Events page for the October 8, 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month First Day of Activities.