October 8 Kickoff Will Celebrate Minority-Owned Businesses, Expand Economic Opportunity, and Promote Generational Wealth
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK — In case you missed it, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC) has announced the official kickoff of its 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month celebration, beginning Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The first day of activities will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Town of Hempstead Pavilion, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York 11550.
During the month of October 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month is comprised of a series of events.
This year’s theme is:
“Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise”
The month-long initiative will recognize the achievements, economic contributions, innovation, and resilience of minority-owned and women-owned businesses throughout Long Island, New York City, New York State, and the surrounding region.
“Minority Enterprise Development Month provides an important platform to recognize entrepreneurs who are creating jobs, strengthening communities, and contributing to the economic vitality of our region,” said Phil Andrews, President of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. “Our goal is not only to celebrate their accomplishments, but also to connect business owners with the relationships, information, capital, contracts, and resources needed to build sustainable enterprises and generational wealth.”
An Evening of Recognition, Resources, and Opportunity
The October 8 opening program is expected to bring together minority and women-owned business owners, corporate executives, government representatives, financial institutions, procurement professionals, business-development organizations, community leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The evening will feature:
- Professional business networking
- Keynote presentations
- Minority and women-owned business recognition
- Access-to-capital information
- Supplier-diversity and procurement opportunities
- Government contracting and certification resources
- Business education and capacity-building opportunities
- Entrepreneurship and generational-wealth discussions
- Leadership development and succession planning
- Marketing, branding, and digital-technology resources
- Artificial-intelligence and emerging-business tools
- Strategic partnerships and professional networking
The event is designed to help participants form meaningful connections, identify new business opportunities, strengthen their companies, and gain greater access to public- and private-sector resources.
A National Tradition of Minority-Business Recognition
Minority Enterprise Development has been nationally observed through efforts supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency. LIAACC expanded the observance into a month of programming, education, networking, recognition, and economic-empowerment activities.
Throughout October, LIAACC plans to present activities focused on access to capital, financial preparedness, government contracting, certification, supplier diversity, business planning, marketing, artificial intelligence, procurement readiness, entrepreneurship, leadership development, strategic partnerships, and the recognition of outstanding minority-owned businesses.
Building Businesses That Last for Generations
The 2026 theme reflects LIAACC’s continuing commitment to helping minority entrepreneurs start, grow, compete, create jobs, secure contracts, build wealth, and contribute to the economic vitality of New York State.
Minority-owned businesses remain essential contributors to neighborhood development, employment, innovation, and regional economic growth. MED Month provides a timely opportunity to recognize these contributions while addressing the barriers that can prevent promising businesses from reaching their full potential.
“Building legacy means creating businesses and institutions that can continue serving families and communities for generations,” Andrews added. “Expanding opportunity means making sure entrepreneurs have a fair chance to compete, obtain capital, pursue contracts, and participate fully in the regional economy.”
Sponsors, Vendors, Partners, and Participants Invited
LIAACC is inviting corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, municipalities, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, procurement professionals, exhibitors, vendors, sponsors, speakers, entrepreneurs, and community partners to participate in MED Month 2026.
Organizations interested in sponsoring programs, presenting resources, exhibiting, partnering with the Chamber, or supporting minority-enterprise development are encouraged to contact LIAACC.
Registration for the October 8 kickoff is available through the Minority Enterprise Development Month event listing on the LIAACC website: https://liaacc.org/events-list/#!event/2026/10/8/med-month-2026-announced-8220-from-access-to-ownership-8221-signals-the-next-era-of-minority-enterprise-growth-1st-day-of-activities-thursday-oct-8th-2026
Event Information
Event: First Day of Minority Enterprise Development Month 2026 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
Host: Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Theme: “Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise”
About: Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Founded in 2010, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is one of New York State’s leading organizations supporting African American, minority-owned, and small businesses.
The Chamber provides business education, technical assistance, advocacy, professional networking, leadership development, access-to-capital information, procurement resources, connections to government and corporate opportunities, and community partnerships.
Throughout its history, LIAACC has assisted more than 1,500 businesses and entrepreneurs and has presented hundreds of workshops, conferences, networking programs, business clinics, recognition ceremonies, and economic-empowerment initiatives.
LIAACC remains committed to helping minority-owned businesses start, grow, compete, create jobs, secure contracts, build wealth, and contribute to the economic vitality of New York State.
Media, Sponsorship, and Partnership Information
Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 325
Garden City, New York 11530
Email: info@liaacc.org
Telephone: 347-475-7158
Empowering Businesses. Strengthening Communities. Building Generations.
