Message from Special Secretary Martinez
Recharge This Summer
I love summer in Maryland! Our beautiful state has so much to offer, from cool hiking trails in the western region and historic sites in Southern Maryland, to catching an Orioles game in downtown Baltimore, fishing on the Susquehanna River in northern Maryland, or enjoying the beaches of the Eastern Shore. Whether it’s the Maryland Ice Cream Trail, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, the C&O Canal Trail Experience, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, or the Crystal Grottoes Caverns, there are countless attractions to pique your interest.
As a small business owner, I understand how challenging it can be to find time for anything beyond work. The demands of entrepreneurship often mean your dedication goes beyond regular waking hours, with the pressure of meeting payroll and finding the next customer. But a 24/7 work schedule is not sustainable. Overworking yourself can dull your perspective, reduce productivity, and lead to burnout. Physically, overworking can disrupt sleep patterns, impact your mood, and cause health problems.
Even if finding time for a full vacation seems impossible, Maryland offers welcoming places for a day or so getaway. It’s not the length of time that matters, but the memorable moments that renew and recharge your spirit. These short breaks allow you to refresh and come back with a new perspective, ready to embrace challenges and resolve issues.
This summer, try to make a plan to step away from the hustle and bustle of running a business. There are new friends to meet, new places to explore, and different cultures to experience. Whether you take a long-needed vacation or a few day trips with the family or reconnecting with friends, I hope this simple act of self-care becomes a cherished habit.
To get your started, check out these suggestions from the Maryland Office of Tourism: Top Things To Do In Summer.
Wishing you all a safe and fantastic summer!
Sincerely,
Maria Martinez
Special Secretary
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Propose to Increase VSBE Program's Goal Currently Open for Public Comment
Proposed regulations are now open for public comment regarding the Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program. Our office, which has oversight of the VSBE Program, is proposing to increase the VSBE participation goal from 1% to 3%. The increased goal is in line with similar
state procurement programs in our region that ensure opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses in the government contracting arena. In accordance with state law, the proposed regulation was published in the Maryland Register (Title 21 State Procurement Regulations) on June 28, 2024. The public comment period will close on July 28, 2024. Please take the time to review the proposed legislation and share your comments, in favor or opposed, to Davon Gardner, Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs with the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. We are eager to hear from you.
davonk.gardner@maryland.gov
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Ready, Set, GROW!
More than 150 small, minority, women, and veteran business owners and entrepreneurs attended our Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop on June 18 in Prince George's County. The event was hosed by MGM National Harbor and we are humbled by their ongoing support for this event. We appreciate President & COO Melonie Johnson for joining the program and introducing Special Secretary Martinez who delivered the keynote address. Guests were able to connect with buyers from 18 state purchasing units and three county government purchasing units as well MGM National Harbor. We also celebrated seven successful entrepreneurs who each received a citation from Governor Wes Moore. Congratulations to:
● Calderon Enterprises – Ines Calderon, CEO
● Chosen Therapeutic Services - Tywanna Hamilton, Founder
● D&T Welding Contractor – Tammie Lunn, CEO & Founder
● Falcon Solutions – Edwin Hirsh, Owner
● Laisar Management Group - Florence Amate, Owner
● Root Branch Media Group – Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew, CEO & Founder
● Techmark Corporation – Rebecca Heaton, Founder & CEO
Ready, Set. GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop
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From the MBE Ombudsman's Desk
Maryland's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program is administered through statutes and regulations that impact both the state government units engaged in procurement as well as the vendor community. This includes laws regarding MBE goal setting, waivers, and requirements for counting MBE participation on state funded contracts. When a state contract has an MBE goal requirement, the prime contractor is responsible for securing MBE subcontractors to fulfill that goal and must name the vendor(s) in the solicitation response. Both prime contractors and subcontractors have several responsibilities to make the bidding, and award process go smoothly. Visit the MBE Ombudsman webpage to read a detailed guide prepared by Maryland's first MBE Ombudsman, Nichelle Johnson.
Guidance from the MBE Ombudsman
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Small Business Grants
BGE is pledging $2 million to assist Maryland's small businesses. Don't miss the deadline for the latest round of BGE's Energizing Small Business Grants. This program is presented in partnership with Hello Alice and the Global Enterprise Network. It offers grants of $20,000 to help central Maryland businesses succeed and thrive. To be eligible, applicants must be a for-profit business and an existing BGE customer in good standing with the State of Maryland. Gross revenue in 2023 must have been below $7M with less than 25 employees and the applicant must show a demonstrated need for funding to support business and serve customers. Businesses that were not selected in a previous round are encouraged to submit a new application. The deadline for the current round is Friday, July 12 at 6 pm. Follow the link below to see the full eligibility requirements and access the online application.
BGE Energizing Small Business Grants
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Offshore Wind Business Opportunities
Is your small business interested in taking advantage of business opportunities in offshore wind? Gain industry connections, tools and resources to successfully enter the wind supply chain successfully by attending the Foundation 2 Blades advanced training conference July 23-25. at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold. The program is hosted by Oceantic Network and is sponsored by the Maryland Energy Administration. Sessions including siting and permitting, manufacturing, vessels, construction, operations and maintenance. A local policy overview and supply chain market overview are included as well as roundtable discussions and networking opportunities. Register to attend.
Foundation 2 Blades
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Small Biz Spotlight
Sage Services Group, LLC
Congratulations to our Small Biz Spotlight winner – Sage Services Group, LLC. Located in Bowie, Maryland, Sage founded by Sonya Hopson who serves as its President & CEO. For over 20 years Sonya has provided leadership on mission critical projects with a diverse range of public and private organizations to improve performance and strengthen organizational effectiveness. Sage Services Group is a team of eight employees and engineers that specialize in Aerospace and human capital. They help design, build, and launch aircrafts and people into their optimal space. Sage does this through their technical engineers who specialize in system, safety, and quality assurance. Their Human Capital engineers specialize in coaching, training, organizational development and redesigns, providing a full range of products to help their clients reach their full potential and the orbits they strive to be in. Sage has been recognized for its work with NASA, the Bowie Business Incubation Center, and the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC) for its support of people, processes, and progress. Sonya has also been recognized for her leadership as a Chair in the CRMSDC organization, as a Thriving Women Business owner, and an awardee in the Capital One Catapult Program Pitch competition. Sage is currently working with the Maryland Comptroller's Office on their employee engagement project administering surveys, analyzing responses, and providing recommendations for takeaways to improve employee satisfaction.
Learn more about Sage Services Group, LLC online or call 240-380-3504
Sage Services Group was randomly selected for this Small Biz Spotlight by attending our
T.I.P.S. webinar series. Join us later this month for your chance to be feature
in an upcoming bulletin.
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Free Small Business Webinar Series
If you want to do business with the State of Maryland, our T.I.P.S. Small Business Webinar Series is a must. Our carefully curated "Training and Insights for Procurement Success curriculum delivers an insightful understanding of the state's procurement processes and builds core competencies. Our goal is to help you learn to compete with confidence in the state's contracting arena. Two classes are offered each month and there is never a cost to participate. Just register in advance to receive the participation link.
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eMMA Vendor Training
The State of Maryland is dedicated to facilitating an open and transparent procurement process. To ensure all businesses have the opportunity to participate in the contracting process, the Maryland Procurement Academy (MDPA) and Office of State Procurement (OSP) offer a variety of online resources to help vendors effectively use eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), Maryland’s online procurement platform. Visit the Vendor Training and Support page to view the schedule of upcoming virtual instructor-led sessions and access the vendor web channel of on-demand video content.
eMMA Vendor Training and Support
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Our team is actively engaged with small business communities across Maryland.
You'll find us at these events in June. We hope to see you there!
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