GREENVILLE, N.C. - The City of Greenville and Greenville Utilities Commission are gearing up for the annual celebration of minority and women-owned businesses known as Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week.

This year's MED Week is scheduled to take place September 24-September 28 with events and activities held throughout the week for business owners and community members. MED Week is a time set aside to acknowledge and to showcase the influence of minority and women-owned enterprises on the local economy and discover how each of these businesses helps shape and serve the communities they inhabit.

Learn how MED Week showcases the color of diversity by following along on social media on Monday, September 24. Throughout the day, the City will be tweeting and posting interesting facts about MWBE's and the importance of this national celebration from the perspective of local MWBE business owners. The City will also share short videos asking MWBE businesses how their businesses contribute to the culture of the city. Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofGreenvilleNC or via Twitter @GreenvilleGov.

On Tuesday, September 25, the City and GUC welcome the Greenville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta and the Eastern Carolina Board of Realtist Association (ECBOR) as they host a "Business Panel" event for new and prospective business owners. All potential and new business owners are invited to attend. The event will be held from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. in City Hall Conference Room 328, 200 West Fifth Street. Learn about business development resources and gain insight into questions on how to get connected in the business community.

The City and GUC will also be holding their signature MED Week Luncheon on Thursday, September 27, at 11:00 a.m. at the Martinsborough, 330 Evans Street. The luncheon will be free to the public.

Start the weekend with the City and GUC by participating in a networking event for young professionals. Through a collaboration with the Young Urban Professionals (YUP) organization, a special MED Week Meetup event will be held on Friday, September 28. At this event, information on wealth creation and entrepreneurship will be shared.

Register for all events at http://medweek2018.eventbrite.com 

"The City of Greenville and Greenville Utilities Commission's MWBE program is so excited to showcase the diversity of businesses found in Greenville," MWBE Coordinator Ferdinand Rouse said. "We are also excited to be working with so many community partners."

The community has stepped in to support MED Week through various sponsorships including the NCDOT Office of Civil Rights, HER Magazine, NCMWBE, the Pitt County Development Commission, and the Carolina Small Business Development Fund.

Institutions, organizations, and business owners have embraced MED Week and will be hosting events in celebration. One such event is an awards show that will take place on Saturday, September 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Reimage Church hosted by NC Civil and Substantial Magazine. The City along with Substantial Magazine and NC Civil will be awarding local luminaries for their work in shaping our community.

For additional information or to get involved, contact Ferdinand Rouse at (252) 329-4462 or frouse@greenvillenc.gov. All events are free to the public and more information can be found at http://medweek2018.eventbrite.com/.