The Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council (Mid-States MSDC), an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (“NMSDC”), is one of the nation’s premier organizations for increasing business and contracting opportunities between major buying organizations and minority-owned businesses. It is a membership organization for major corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, and universities and operates within a service area comprised of Central Illinois, Indiana and Eastern Missouri. Specifically, the Mid-States MSDC promotes and facilitates the development of business relationships between its members and NMSDC-certified minority-owned business enterprises. The Council works to expand business opportunities for minority-owned companies in an effort to build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority supplier development. The Council has over 77 national and local corporate members and approximately 300 certified minority businesses. The Council organizes networking events, educational sessions and unique opportunities that serve as venues for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and corporate members to come together and identify mutually beneficial opportunities to work with one another. The Mid-States MSDC is a private, non-profit organization categorized by the IRS as 501(c)(3). The Council is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with a regional office in St. Louis, MO and relies on advisory committee volunteers to assist with programs in each region. This approach helps develop closer relationships with members, and better defines programs and services. The Council is an affiliate of the NMSDC and its relationship is governed by an affiliation agreement executed by NMSDC and the Council. Continued affiliation with the NMSDC is at the sole discretion of the NMSDC.