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Small businesses weren't failing because they lacked talent or drive. They were losing opportunities because they lacked access: to capital, to contracts, and to the corporate rooms where sourcing decisions got made.
CVMSDC was founded to change that. Nearly 50 years ago, a small group of advocates created what has become one of the most active regional affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, a network that now spans 23 regions and touches every major sector of the American economy.
Where We Started
NMSDC was established more than 50 years ago with a single focus: reduce the risk of sourcing from minority-owned businesses by certifying their legitimacy and capability. Regional affiliates like CVMSDC were created to bring that work close to home, to the communities, companies, and entrepreneurs who needed it most.
CVMSDC served the Carolinas and Virginia for nearly 50 years under that name. What started as a certification program grew into a full ecosystem of business development: training programs, corporate matchmaking, peer networking, annual conferences, and active legislative advocacy.
Today, we do business as The Council, a new name for the same nearly 50-year commitment to small business growth. The certification, the programs, and the team behind them haven't changed.
What We Believe
We believe the economy works better when all businesses compete on equal footing. That's not a political position, it's an economic one. When more businesses compete, innovation thrives, profits increase, and communities grow stronger.
We also believe that certification is just the starting point. Too many organizations stop there. We don't. We want to see the businesses we serve grow from early-stage to $20 million, $50 million, and beyond. That requires development, real connections, and sustained advocacy, not just a certificate.
Where We're Headed
Over the next decade, we're focused on growth that's visible and measurable. We want to see small businesses in our region reach revenue levels that create generational wealth: $20 to $50 million and beyond. We want more entrepreneurs to know we're here to support them and their success. And we want the businesses we serve to be so well-prepared that corporate partners come looking for them.
Millions of small business owners have never heard of NMSDC or The Council. Every day we're working to change that narrative.