During the late 1990's, the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of
Commerce (GDAACC) envisioned the need to aid a growing Asian-American
community based in East Dallas, primarily immigrants and refugees from
the southeast of Asia. The goal was to offer them a location where they
could grow both socially and financially while becoming familiar with
U.S. customs, education standards and commerce.
Little Asia, as the center was originally known, was founded in 1999. The center
originally served the Asian clientele that was its target. Soon,
its success began attracting many non-Asian
clients that had moved into the DFW area from different parts of the
world including Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and India.
To reflect this melting pot, the office was re-named
“Multi-Ethnic Education and Economic Development Center” or by its
acronym,
MEED Center.
With time, the focus of the center evolved from community and cultural support to more economic goals. Classes on Home Buying, Financial Management,
Job Training and Computers were added to meet the demand of the MEED Center's clients.
This transformation culminated in 2003 with the designation of the MEED Center as the 6th Business Assistance
Center of the City of Dallas Economic Development Small Business Initiative.
Today, the MEED Center still celebrates the diversity of its neighborhood with cultural festivals.
However, its main focus is to provide low and middle income entrepreneurs with the necessary support,
education and resources to start strong, growth and thrive. We provide shared office space
at below market rents, seminars on various business topics, free one on one counseling, as well as
referrals and access to the larger network that is the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber
of Commerce.
