New $1.1 Million Investment from Fifth Third Foundation Advances NMSDC Centers of Excellence Certificate Program

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and Fifth Third today announce the continuance of NMSDC’s innovative Centers of Excellence Certificate Program (COECP) through 2026. The COECP facilitates the development and growth of NMSDC-certified minority business enterprises, prepares them to compete for larger contracting opportunities and facilitates opportunities for strategic partnerships, mentoring and networking.

The Fifth Third Foundation will provide an additional $1.1 million over the next three years to sponsor the program — and three new classes of graduates — through 2026. Fifth Third also donated $1 million for the program from 2020-2023. In addition, the organizations today announced the 2023 COECP program graduates.

The 2023 graduates included participants from companies certified by five of NMSDC’s regional affiliates, including the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, the Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, the Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council. For the full list of graduates, visit nmsdc.org or 53.com.

“The Centers of Excellence program is a prime example of how exponential MBE growth is possible when NMSDC and our corporate members, MBEs, and regional affiliates work together to create an ecosystem of mentorship and collaboration,” said NMSDC CEO and President Ying McGuire. “Our partnership with strategic allies like Fifth Third enables us to drive change and advance economic equity by providing growth opportunities to minority business owners.”

“Collaborations like the one between Fifth Third, the NMSDC and other valued partners is lifting up small businesses across the country,” said Fifth Third Executive Vice President Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer at Fifth Third Bank and chairman of the board of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. “We are proud to financially support the program through our Foundation and to lend our expertise as educators and subject matter experts to create an incredibly valuable experience that will pay dividends for all involved long into the future.”