Message from Special Secretary Rhee

As we enter into the new year, I wish you all great prosperity. The word "prosperity" means the state or condition of being successful. We commonly imply success in terms of wealth, forgetting that health and happiness are also conditions of prosperity. Many people measure success independently from their level of happiness. Ebenezer Scrooge was successful, but not happy and it took three ghosts to change his perspective. I encourage you all to strive for happiness in 2022. In the work environment studies have found that happy people experience less stress and approach challenges proactively. They are also more productive and have better customer relationships (which typically result in higher sales). As you form your new year resolutions, strive to reap the benefits of happiness. Don't stress about it, but rather enjoy the process of identifying areas in your professional and personal life where you could let in more happiness. When you cultivate greater happiness, you improve your health and live longer. That is the kind of prosperity we are all seeking. 

Jimmy Rhee
Special Secretary

For Your Business

Maryland General Assembly

The 90-day session of the Maryland General Assembly gets underway on January 12, 2022. The 47 senators and 141 delegates of this legislative body will consider thousands of pieces of proposed legislation and pass the state's annual capital and operating budgets. Many of the decisions they make will affect your business. While the 443rd Session of the Maryland General Assembly will look different as the pandemic continues, you can still stay connected to the process and proactively advocate on the issues that impact you personally and professionally. Bookmark the Maryland General Assembly website to find your representatives, track proposed legislation, and even watch proceedings in both chambers. 

Maryland General Assembly

Explore the Maryland
Entrepreneur Hub

We have been exploring the Maryland Entrepreneur Hub and are impressed with
vast content available from this online resource. You can search by resource type, business category, stage of business, industry group, audience focus, and more. The site contains thousands of resources and entrepreneur support organizations that can help you navigate Maryland's business ecosystem. Take some time to explore this valuable tool. 

Maryland Entrepreneur Hub

News from MBDA

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is pleased to announce the passage of the Minority Business Development Act of 2021, making MBDA permanent. MBDA is the only Federal Agency whose mission is to support and assist minority businesses. For 52 years, this agency was temporary, however now it is a permanent addition to the Federal government.  The Maryland MBDA Business Center closed out its 2020/2021 Program Year having served over 650
minority business enterprises. It is part of a national network that works with minority businesses to increase access to financing, contract opportunities, and creation and retention of jobs. Visit their website to learn more about the full range of services available from the Maryland MBDA Business Center. 

Maryland MBDA Business Center

Technical Training Classroom
Webinar

We are kicking off 2022 with two powerful sessions of our  Technical Training Classroom webinar series. The sessions are free, you just need to register in advance. 

Tuesday, January 25, 2022 @ 10 am
How thoroughly are you reading the contracts you sign? Instead of signing a contract you don't understand, protect your business while building successful relationships by creating your own contracts. You'll learn how on this webinar. 
What Every Business Owner Needs to Know About Their Contracts

Thursday, January 27, 2022 @ 10 am
If you're ready to become a prime contractor with the State of Maryland, you'll want to enroll in the Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program. This session provides an in-depth review of the program's eligibility standards, the online certification process, and the pipeline for identifying SBR opportunities.
Prime Contracting in Maryland's Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program

Business Events

Stay connected to the many opportunities for training, networking, and business development that are taking place across Maryland and on virtual platforms. Here is a highlight of some of the events coming up this month. 

1/06/2022 - 2022's Hottest Businesses, Markets & Trends
1/11/2022 - Selling to the Government in 2022
1/12/2022 - Cost Proposal Development
1/18/2022 - Business Bookkeeping Basics
1/24/2022 - Budget Planning 101
1/25/2022 - What Every Business Owner Needs to Know About Their Contracts
1/26/2022 - 2022 Statewide Conference: Thriving in a Post-Pandemic World
1/27/2022 - Prime Contracting in Maryland's Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program

Check out the full listing of small business events online at
goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov.

We Want You

We continually share information curated specifically for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses on our social media platforms. We'll inspire you with our #MotivationMonday series and connect you to a broad range of small business resource organizations. We also share information about loan programs and funding opportunities as well as small business events and training programs. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

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