WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service is being honored as the top government agency for Multicultural Business Opportunities by Omnikal, the largest business organization promoting inclusiveness in the country. The award honors the Postal Service’s leadership among the 25 top-ranked government agencies, known as the Omni50, that actively support opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The award is bestowed by Omnikal, a social media and networking organization with more than 2 million members. The recipients of this year’s award were determined based on Omnikal member responses to questions about the quality of business initiatives implemented to include companies led by women and minorities.

In naming the Postal Service as the No. 1 Omni50 Award Winning Government Agency, Omnikal CEO Kenton Clarke noted that the inclusion practices of those honored “have changed the course of our current economy and as a result, the world as we know it.”

“We are honored that the U.S. Postal Service has been selected as the country’s number one government agency for multicultural business opportunities for the seventh consecutive year,” said Supply Management Vice President Susan M. Brownell.

Brownell added, “As an essential part of our procurement strategy, supplier diversity continues to strengthen the Postal Service’s competitiveness in the marketplace. We remain committed to maintaining a competitive and sustainable supplier base that reflects the diversity of the American supplier community and is capable of helping us solve our challenges with agility, ingenuity, and new perspectives.”

The Postal Service’s efforts to engage with multicultural businesses and entrepreneurs include reaching out to register small businesses, hosting workshops, facilitating one-on-one business meetings, and posting materials online to guide business owners in marketing their supplies and services.

Postal Service policies support inclusiveness as vital for the continued growth and success of its business in serving the American public. The Postal Service strives to empower and collaborate with diverse partners to better serve its customers, to maintain positive rapport within the business community and to remain on the cutting edge of business in the 21st century.

This is the 17th year that the Postal Service has been honored by Omnikal as a top-ranked government agency for its efforts to be inclusive, which is a metric of success in reaching other key players in the inclusion marketplace.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.