On July 24, the Department of Commerce Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships, in partnership with the United Way Worldwide and Public Democracy America, held the National Partnerships Summit 2.0.  Secretary Gina Raimondo, Deputy Secretary Don Graves, Assistant Secretary for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Alejandra Castillo, and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development Eric Morrissette headlined the event with keynote remarks emphasizing the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to celebrate, empower, and uplift our nonprofit partners from communities across the nation.

Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Dr. Nicole Cooper at United Way Worldwide and Executive Director Scott Shalett at Public Democracy America both expressed their appreciation for how the Department of Commerce continues to empower our nation's nonprofits, which are essential to America's ability to compete and win in the global arena.

The Interagency Panel included leaders from various agencies such as AmeriCorps, EDA, the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They discussed how they partner with nonprofit organizations and upcoming opportunities. Panelists also shared an overview of the resources and services provided by their departments. At the same time, interagency partners highlighted the range of programs supported by the Biden-Harris Administration. They also emphasized the critical role our nonprofits play in the U.S. economy. They urged community leaders to continue engaging at the state and federal level to streamline access to resources supported by President Biden and Vice President Harris' Investing in America agenda which is unlocking new pathways to economic growth, entrepreneurship, and job creation. 

During the Partnerships Mini-Fair, representatives from AmeriCorps, the Departments of Education and Treasury, EDA, FEMA, HHS, HUD, International Trade Administration, Minority Business Development Agency, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, and the White House presented a wide range of resources and opportunities. They supported everything from workforce development and technical assistance to data analysis techniques for climate resilience and business innovation, showcasing the comprehensive nature of the event.

The listening sessions provided an opportunity for a robust conversation on the best practices of government grants, technical assistance, and contracts and partnering on bill implementation. Our nonprofit partners facilitated these discussions, focusing on the agency's background and exploring grants, contracts, and technical assistance opportunities.

In the first session, agency leaders from the Economic Development Agency and CHIPS for America addressed workforce development, business and entrepreneurship, data, and innovation. The second session featured representatives from the White House and the Treasury Department, as well as our Commerce Counselor for Equity, who highlighted specific resources from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that could benefit nonprofits and discussed opportunities for direct payments.

For those who couldn't attend or want to revisit the insightful discussions, portions of the summit are available via recorded live stream. This ensures that everyone, regardless of physical presence, can benefit from the wealth of knowledge and inspiration shared at the National Partnerships Summit 2.0.