Small Biz Bulletin - July 2023
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Welcome Special Secretary Martinez
Governor Wes Moore has appointed Y. Maria Martinez to serve as the Special Secretary of the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. Ms. Martinez is a respected entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist. She brings more than 25 years of private sector experience to this new role, including nearly two decades as a minority woman business owner. As the special secretary, she will serve on the governor's cabinet and lead the administration's efforts to increase internal and external accountability and performance measures for the state's three socioeconomic procurement programs across 70 state agencies and departments. Ms. Martinez will coordinate with state agencies to identify strategies, increase engagement, and expand opportunities for small, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses to grow and succeed in Maryland. We are excited to welcome Special Secretary Martinez to our team on July 5th when she begins her state service.
Governor Moore Appoints Yolanda Maria Martinez as Special Secretary of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Maryland is 2nd Best State for Minority Entrepreneurs to Succeed
According to a recent study by Lendio, Maryland is ranked as the second best state in the nation for minority entrepreneurs to succeed. Lendio is an online business loan and financing platform which used multiple factors to determine the ranking, including access to small business loans, business ownership rates, and income equality. According to the study, 24% of businesses are minority-owned, with nearly 30% of startups being minority-owned. It also found that job growth at minority-owned businesses in Maryland is 59%. Check out the full study.
Best and Worst States for Minority Entrepreneurs
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State of Maryland Disparity Study Underway
The State of Maryland is conducting a comprehensive Utilization and Availability Study (the "Disparity Study"), led by MGT Consulting Group. The overall purpose is to determine whether there is racial and/or gender business discrimination in the markets in which the State does business - both public and private sectors. As part of the process, the state will collect data regarding the availability of firms owned by minorities and women, and the utilization of these forms as contractors and subcontractors in the Maryland marketplace. In addition to analysis of quantitative data, the Disparity Study will also examine qualitative data about business discrimination (to the extent that it exists) provided by business owners, trade associations, business organizations, and other stakeholders. We encourage ALL business owners to provide information about their experiences, particularly with respect to discrimination, while doing business or attempting to do business with the State of Maryland and other public or private entities in Maryland's market area. All firms, not just certified firms, can participate. For ways to get involved, please visit the "Business Owner Engagement" section of the official website.
State of Maryland Disparity Study
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TRAINING & OUTREACH
30 Steps for Startups
Maryland small businesses that are still in the startup phase (open less than 5 years) now have access to a free online course designed to increase revenue and add jobs in local communities and strengthen the statewide economy. The program, "30 Steps for Startups" is being produced in partnership with the Maryland Department of Commerce, Maryland Department of Labor, and Will Holmes Consulting. Participants engage in a 7-week intense online course via Zoom on Wednesday evenings from August 16 through September 27. Participation is limited. Apply online today.
30 Steps for Startups
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T.I.P.S. Webinar Series
Training and Insights for Procurement Success
If you want to do business with the State of Maryland, tap into our T.I.P.S. webinar series. Our topics are carefully curated to help you improve core competencies and gain an insightful understanding of the state's procurement processes. There is no cost to participate, just register in advance to receive the participation link.
Never stop learning! We have a great schedule of monthly classes. Visit the T.I.P.S. Webinar Series webpage to see the full 2023 schedule or download the slide deck of last month's classes. You can also check out our YouTube Playlist to view any of the recorded sessions over the past year.
T.I.P.S. Webinar Series
T.I.P.S. Webinar Series Playlist
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eMMA Vendor Web Channel
If you're interested in doing business with the State
of Maryland, you need to be a skilled eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) user. eMMA is our online procurement platform. There is no cost to register and you'll receive notices of solicitations that match your profile when they are posted. Learn to navigate this platform using online tools offered by the Maryland Procurement Academy. They include live instructor-led training sessions and webinars as well as on-demand video content. Topics include: Increasing Your Visibility on eMMA, Responding to Solicitations, and Understanding UNSPSC Codes. This web channel is frequently updated with resourceful videos and Flash Sessions on hot topics and trends, all designed to help users best utilize eMMA's full scope of features, tools, and functionality.
eMMA Vendor Web Channel
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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 join our social media community and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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