Message from Special Secretary Rhee

2020 is the Year of the Woman

One hundred years ago the 19th Amendment was passed giving women the right to vote, In recognition of this historical event, Governor Hogan declared 2020 the Year of the Woman in Maryland. I am fortunate to work with a talented and dedicated team of women within the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. As individuals, they each possess special skills and characteristics that make them outstanding public servants. Collectively, they all share an innate passion for working with entrepreneurs. We'll be profiling them throughout the year in the Small Biz Bulletin as we celebrate the Year of the Woman in Maryland. 

Jimmy Rhee
Special Secretary

2020 the Year of the Woman in Maryland

Technical Training Classroom

We are pleased to announce the 2020 schedule for our popular Technical Training Classroom. These free classes cover a broad range of topics to help small, minority, women, and veteran entrepreneurs improve managerial efficiencies and gain an insightful understanding of the government contracting arena. We hope to see you at multiple classes this year.

2020 Technical Training Classroom

Small Business Reserve Program

Over $400 million is awarded to small businesses through Maryland's Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program annually. Are you a certified SBR vendor? If not, you're missing out on prime contracting opportunities on state-funded contracts. Certification takes place within eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), the state's new
e-Procurement platform that launched in July 2019. Firms registered in the old system were not automatically carried into eMMA. Only firms certified as an SBR vendor can win prime contracts designated for the SBR Program. Learn more about the program and register in eMMA today.

SBR Program

eMMA

TEDCO Investment Funds

Applications are now being accepted for TEDCO;s Investment Funds. TEDCO is Maryland's economic engine for technology companies. Applications are now being accepted for four investment funds: Rural Business Innovation Initiative, Builder Fund, Seed Funds, and Maryland Venture Fund. New statutory requirements enacted by the Maryland General Assembly in 2019 tasked TEDCO with developing an application process for its investment programs. Visit their website for details on each fund and the application process. 

TEDCO

Meet Pam Gregory

Pamela Gregory serves the Hogan administration as Chief of Staff with the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. She has over 20 years of government service and excels at system and business process improvements proven to increase efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction. She's not a fan of public speaking, but willingly steps to the podium to recognize the outstanding small business owners awarded with a Governor's Citation at our Ready, Set, GROW! workshops. She much prefers one-on-one conversations with entrepreneurs as they learn to navigate the procurement process. Pam lives in Dorchester County where she is an active member of GirlTrek, a national health movement program through walking. She loves spending time with her son and his family, especially her two granddaughters of whom she is immensely proud. Shoe shopping and interior decorating are mild obsessions for Pam. She also enjoys cooking and often brings treats to the office. No surprise that makes her very popular with her co-workers.