Rep. Haley Stevens Fights Back Against Trump Attacks on Minority-Owned Businesses; Introduces IDEA Act to Protect Michigan Jobs and Innovation
Washington, D.C. — Today, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced the Inclusion, Development, and Economic Advancement (IDEA) Act to protect minority-owned businesses from the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)—a move that threatens jobs, innovation, and Michigan’s economic progress.
Michigan is home to one of the nation’s largest and most diverse entrepreneurial communities, particularly in high-tech manufacturing, engineering, and small business development. MBDA partnerships and accelerator programs have helped Michigan companies scale production, reach new supply chains, hire local workers, and grow in emerging sectors like mobility and advanced manufacturing. Trump’s actions threaten that progress, and the IDEA Act ensures Michigan entrepreneurs don’t lose momentum.
The IDEA Act creates a statutory grant program to support business accelerators that expand access to capital, business networks, supply chains, and mentorship in underserved communities. Specifically, the bill will:
Launch an MBDA accelerator grant program dedicated to serving minority-owned businesses
Provide up to $1 million per accelerator for direct capital support through cash grants, networking programs that connect entrepreneurs to investors and innovation hubs, and other assistance approved by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development
Require public transparency and reporting on the number of grants awarded and minority-owned businesses served
Crack down on fraud by establishing penalties for knowingly misusing grant funds
“Let’s be clear: President Trump is turning his back on minority entrepreneurs—including right here in Michigan,” said Rep. Stevens. “Across our state, minority-owned businesses are creating jobs, fueling manufacturing, and building wealth for working families. The IDEA Act protects Michigan jobs, strengthens local supply chains, and invests in the small business owners who are the backbone of our communities.”
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