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Small Biz Bulletin - May 2022
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Message from Special Secretary Rhee
May is National Military Appreciation Month. Today we are witnessing the sacrifices being made by soldiers in Ukraine and are reminded of how important it is to pay tribute to those who fight for the freedoms of others. As an immigrant from South Korea, it feels very personal to me each time I see a nighttime snapshot of the Korean Peninsula where North Korea is pitch black while South Korea is brightly lit. I am keenly aware that the dynamic democracy and booming capitalism which South Korea now enjoys came at the sacrifice of many young American soldiers. Several military holidays will be celebrated throughout the month, including Loyalty Day, VE Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. We will celebrate as well by hosting the 2022 Military Small Business Appreciation Breakfast on May 11th. Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford will join members of the military community to deliver the keynote address and award citations to three outstanding veteran entrepreneurs. Military service and small business ownership share a distinct relationship. The characteristics of a good soldier are modeled in entrepreneurship, so it's no surprise that veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than non veterans. Maryland is home to more than 54,000 veteran-owned small businesses. The greatest way to honor them for their service is to become a customer.
Jimmy Rhee Special Secretary
2022 Military Small Business Appreciation Breakfast
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For Your Information
Advisory Committee Formed to Advance the VSBE Program
Last month, the Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Advisory Committee met for the first time. Jimmy Rhee, Special Secretary of the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs serves as the chairman of the group which is comprised of state officials and private sector business owners. Their mission is to ensure the continuous improvements of the VSBE Program. We'd like to thank our colleagues from the departments of Veterans Affairs, General Services, Commerce, Human Services and Performance Improvement for their participation. We also want to thank the following businesses representatives from the private sector for contributing their time and talent as well:
- Joe Giordano, Project Opportunity
- Robert Tirocchi, Harkins Builders, Inc.
- Erica Dobbs, Dobbs Defense Solutions, LLC
- Joseph Byrd, SMI Services, LLC
- Scott Thompson, DuraBante, LLC.
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Small Business Participation in Sports Wagering
What opportunities exist in Maryland's emerging sports betting industry for small businesses, retailers, investors, and other interested parties? Find out during an educational program featuring industry experts and consultants, regulators and legislators, gaming suppliers and operators, and licensing executives. This three-hour event includes two panel discussions; one looks into the cost of running a sports betting operation and one that examines the regulatory, legal, and licensing requirements. The Maryland Educational Summit: Sports Wagering - Small Business Participation in the Spotlight will be held on Friday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Montgomery Park Business Center Auditorium in Baltimore. There is no cost to attend, and advance registration is required.
MD Education Summit: Sports Wagering - Small Business Participation in the Spotlight
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Technical Training Classroom Webinar
Our Technical Training Classroom webinar series continues with two great sessions in May. The sessions are free, you just need to register in advance.
If you missed last month's classes, visit the Technical Training Classroom page of our website to download the accompanying slide decks.
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eMMA Vendor Training Series
In a continued effort to support the vendor community, the Maryland Procurement Academy is offering webinars focused on utilization of eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), the state's primary vendor platform. The one-hour sessions demonstrate how to best utilize eMMA's full scope of features, tools, and functionality. All sessions are free. Advance registration is required.
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Join our Social Media Community
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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