Small, Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, October 30, 2015

Small, minority and women-owned businesses are the backbone of Baltimore’s growing economy. This is why my administration makes it a priority ensure that all businesses have equal opportunities to compete and succeed. It was my honor to proclaim this past week as Supplier Diversity and Inclusion/Minority Enterprise Development Week in Baltimore. 

Throughout the week we recognized outstanding minority businesses and took big steps to support this community of entrepreneurs. Led by the work of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development, my Advisory Council on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, and our report, A New Day, A Better Way Report, we took a number of steps to enhance the City’s MBE program and small business inclusion efforts.

These efforts include creating bid preferences for HUBZone projects, adding an Economic Benefits Evaluation factor to Requests for Proposals, and issuing an Executive Order encouraging Cabinet Agencies to increase spending with small businesses for goods and services under $5,000. This represents a significant step forward in how city government positions our small, minority and women-owned businesses to grow and succeed.

I was excited to recognize the many businesses and organizations leading the way in minority business with my Inaugural Minority and Women-Owned Business Awards. The recipients are building more vibrant commercial districts, hiring more residents from our neighborhoods, and putting more money back into the communities in which they live. Learn more about the awardees here

I am proud of our efforts to support small, minority and women-owned businesses and the jobs they create for our residents. I remain committed to ensure they continue to play a significant role in Baltimore's economy. 

This originally appeared in the Rawlings-Blake Review. If you do not receive the Mayor's weekly newsletter, subscribe here.

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