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Small Biz Bulletin
August 3, 2020
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Message from Special Secretary Rhee
Summer Reading List
I was recently reminded of this famous quote: "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read," by Charlie "Tremendous" Jones. He was a well-known motivational speaker and consultant who placed great emphasis on the importance of reading and study throughout one's life. I share his passion and am a voracious reader. Prior to the pandemic, I read about 20-30 books a year. Now that I spend less time in traffic, meetings and the office, I have read 18 books in the past four months. My favorite topics are philosophy, economics and politics. I like to read because it decompresses my mind, expands my imagination, and makes me rethink my current assumptions. As the late Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Homes, Jr. famously stated, "A mind that is stretched by new experience can never go back to its old dimensions." In this time when health concerns place limits on the people we meet, I encourage you to read more. It is a powerful investment in your own personal development. I'd like to offer some recommendations. These books will challenge your assumptions. They will also highlight the beauty of our world - something we can take for granted, and as a result, act carelessly in our role as stewards. We need to make sure our mindset is clear and purposeful. Programs designed to assist small, minority, women, and veteran business owners should not be taken for granted. There are valid social, economic, and political reasons that these programs exist, and we all have a stake in their outcome.
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The Economics of Inequality by Thomas Picketty
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What's the Matter with Kansas? by Thomas Frank
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The Price of Inequality by Joseph E. Stiglitz
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Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind + Sapiens: Homo Deus by Yaval Noach Harari
Jimmy Rhee
Special Secretary
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For Your Business
COVID-19 Update
Governor Larry Hogan recently announced the expansion of Maryland's statewide masking order. He reported that we are doing better than many other parts of the country, and we must continue to be vigilant. Residents are advised to heed all state and local public health guidance: wear masks or face coverings, telework when possible, avoid public transportation unless absolutely necessary, practice physical distancing, and avoid large gatherings. All Marylanders are safer at home, particularly older and more vulnerable populations. A recent increase in hospitalizations has triggered a "stop sign" in the Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery," calling for a pause in further reopening plans. In addition, a public health advisory for all out-of-state travel is in place. Marylanders are strongly advised against traveling to states with a positivity rate of 10% or higher. Anyone traveling from these states should get tested and self-quarantine while awaiting results. Use the link below to read more about this latest action.
Expanded Statewide Mask Order, Out-of-State Travel Advisory
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We Need You!
Maryland launched the Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program in 2004 to provide prime contracting opportunities for small businesses that are ready, willing and able to perform on state-funded contracts. In the last fiscal year, Maryland paid over $477 million to certified SBR firms. The program applies to 66 designated agencies and departments that are required to spend at least 15 percent of their total fiscal year procurement expenditures with certified SBR vendors. Once a contract is designated to the SBR Program, only certified firms can win the award. This creates a unique environment where small businesses compete against other small businesses. The SBR Program is race- and gender-neutral, so all small businesses that meet the eligibility standards, inclusive of those firms owned by minorities, women and veterans, are strongly encouraged to participate. Today, there are less than 4,000 vendors in the SBR Program, so we need you! Increasing the number of SBR certified firms will result in more SBR designated opportunities. Vendors who meet the eligibility standards and complete an online process can become certified in just one day. There is no cost to participate in the SBR Program. Visit the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs online to learn more.
Small Business Reserve Program
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Innovation Uncovered
Maryland has been the birthplace for many inventions, products and firsts. We are home to creative thinkers, doers, and makers that strive to improve our lives, enhance our safety, reinvent our future, or just plain make life more interesting. Maryland Department of Commerce wants to shine a light on those businesses. They are looking for the best startup stories from every region in the state to identify and recognized those who are taking Maryland's innovation ecosystem into the future. If you are a startup or you know of a unique Maryland startup doing great things, please let us know so we can point the spotlight in there direction.
"Maryland Future 20" Company Nomination
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Enhance Your Virtual Meetings
We're all doing business on a virtual platform these days, and it is likely to become a standard business channel. When you are hosting a virtual event, your brand is indirectly tied to how well the meeting is run. Connectivity issues, sound quality, awkward backgrounds, and general distractions may give your audience the wrong impression. Running a virtual meeting that is free of hiccups enhances the guests' experience and leaves your brand feeling professional and polished. Most of us are relatively new to this platform, and in many cases, we are ill-prepared. If you're looking for ways to up your virtual game and create a memorable experience, check out these great tips
12 Tips for Making Your Virtual Meetings More Professional
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Open for Business and Working from Home
Introducing Tanita Johnson
From entities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to out-of-state organizations on the Western Coast of California, small businesses are on the minds and in the prayers of many during this time. We all have some story to share about our experiences with them, from tasting a delicious delicacy at an interesting eatery, stumbling across a quaint boutique, or discovering a unique antique market. We have to admit that small businesses are at the center of our communities and have played some part in all our lives. They are most certainly the focus of our daily workload in the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. In my daily interactions with these entrepreneurs, they may ask a question, provide a suggestion, share their frustration, or just express jubilation. It is a pleasure having such discussions and providing assistance to them. One of the greatest joys of the job is receiving the news that a small business has been awarded a contract with the State of Maryland. This news is like music to my ears! In receiving this news and hearing the stories of these small business vendors, there is a pattern of commitment, determination, and endurance along their entrepreneurial journey. In the months to come, it is my wish that numerous small businesses, especially those participating in the Small Business Reserve, Minority Business Enterprise, and Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise programs compete for and win state-funded contracts. They work hard for the opportunity to place their talents on display.
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COVID-19 Business Resources
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