Governor Wes Moore Delivers Remarks at Maryland Business Opportunities and Entrepreneurial Training Summit

Per the State or Maryland: Governor Wes Moore this morning delivered remarks before hundreds of representatives of small, minority, and veteran businesses during the Maryland Business Opportunities and Entrepreneurial Training Summit. The governor was joined by University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry, and Governor’s Office of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs Special Secretary Yolanda “Maria” Martinez in a show of support and solidarity for Maryland’s minority and disadvantaged business enterprise program participants.

“I want to thank the business leaders for being the risk takers and visionaries,” said Gov. Moore. “We must use all of the tools at our disposal to deliver the supports our minority, small and veteran owned businesses need to thrive. We don’t have to choose between an economy that is competitive and an economy that is equitable. We can, and we will, do both.”

Together, the Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of General Services, and University System of Maryland have an unprecedented number of projects across the state, with more than $6.5 billion dollars in procurement opportunities. The summit helps encourage and equip businesses to get their fair share of available contracts.

The Moore-Miller administration is working diligently to ensure that qualified minority businesses are actively utilized and accounted for in state government procurement and contracting opportunities. As one of his first acts in office, Governor Moore signed an executive order to underscore the administration’s commitment to strengthening participation, compliance, and accountability for Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise program. And in May, the governor announced a $15 million commitment to minority-led small business lender Lendistry to provide relief to Maryland small businesses.

The administration also advanced regulations through the Board of Public Works that would provide contractual safeguards and protections for Minority Business Enterprise program sub-contractors. State agencies are also now required to submit marketing and outreach plans to the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs that include proactive outreach to Minority Business Enterprises to promote procurement opportunities.

To learn more about Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise program, visit gomdsmallbiz.maryland.gov.