Maryland Small Businesses Lead the Way
Did you know 99.5% of all businesses in Maryland are small businesses! According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Maryland is home to nearly 620,000 small businesses and they employ 49% of the state’s workforce. There’s no doubt that small businesses have a big impact on our economy and communities statewide. Next week, the SBA Baltimore District Office will celebrate the 37th Maryland Small Business Week Awards Luncheon and recognize the outstanding achievements of successful entrepreneurs and the advocates who helped them along the way. The event will feature inspiring stories, networking opportunities, and access to small business resource providers. The list of 2023 honorees is quite impressive. Congratulations to all of these outstanding small business owners, especially the three who are certified vendors in the state’s socioeconomic procurement programs:
- Joy Johnson of Joy of Beauty – Woman Owned Business of the Year
- Aaron Keel of EnviroProjects, LLC – Home-Based Small Business of the Year
- Marcellus Wade of Black Fox, LLC – Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year
37th MD Small Business Week Awards Luncheon
For Your Information: Ready, Set, GROW!
Join us in Prince George’s County for our signature small business development event, the Ready, Set, GROW Procurement Connections Workshop on June 7 at MGM National Harbor. Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller will deliver our keynote address and present Governor’s Citations to three outstanding small business owners. Guests will gain insights on how our small, minority, women, and veteran procurement programs work and
learn strategies for mining public data to target your business development efforts. You can also meet with buyers from 16 different state agencies and learn what they are buying now and what’s in the pipeline. Come out and meet representatives from:
- Department of Housing and Community Development
- Maryland Department of General Services
- Maryland Department of Human Services
- Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- Maryland Environmental Service
- Maryland Insurance Administration
- Maryland Stadium Authority
- Maryland State Police
- Maryland State Department of Education
- MDOT – Maryland Port Administration
- MDOT – State Highway Administration
- MDOT – Maryland Transportation Authority
- MDOT – Motor Vehicle Administration
- Towson University
- University of Maryland – College Park
Check in begins at 9:30 am and the program will get underway at 10 am. Bring plenty of business cards and capability statements for the open networking session that follows the program. Refreshments are being provided by our generous host, MGM National Harbor. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited. Register today!
Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop
TEDCO Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Happy 25th anniversary to the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, fondly known as TEDCO. Back in 1998, the Maryland General Assembly recognized the need to address the commercialization of tech transfer by academic researchers. Today, TEDCO provides funding, resources, and connections that early-stage technology and life sciences companies need to thrive in Maryland. They continue to envision bold responses to challenges facing the entrepreneurial community and invest in programs that support diversity and inclusion. If you’re not already familiar with TEDCO, check them out today.
Maryland OneStop
Licensing and permitting for your business can be confusing. Maryland OneStop is a central online hub for state licenses, forms, certificates, permits, applications, and registrations. The portal delivers a user-friendly experience with 24/7 access. You can browse by state agency or by one of three categories: professional, organization, or personal. Search results provides a brief description of the form, license or permit along with the submission window, approval time, average completion time, and the application fee. A primary point of contact is also listed along with a link to the online application and/or a download of hard copy forms. You’ll want to bookmark this site.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Calling Women Veteran and Military Spouse Entrepreneurs
Every year, June 12 is recognized as National Women Veterans Day. Here in Maryland, we are celebrating women veterans and military spouses who own a small business or are thinking about opening one. Join us on the campus of Bowie State University for a complimentary lunch and learn program to celebrate successful veteran women small business owners, hear real life experiences of women entrepreneurs, and highlight the value and skill sets needed to build credibility for your brand. You’ll also connect with a broad range of stakeholder groups and organizations that support veteran-owned small businesses at the local, state, and federal levels. Register today, and tell a friend!
Women Veterans Entrepreneurship Resources Lunch & Learn
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.
- June 27, 2023 @ 10 a.m.
Strategies for Digital Marketing - June 29, 2023 @ 10 a.m.
Leveraging Your Certifications
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
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.
06/06/2023 – Introduction to eMMA for Vendors
06/07/2023 – Standing Out in a Crowded Marketplace
06/07/2023 – Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop
06/08/2023 – Small Business Lending 101
06/08/2023 – Doing Business with BWI Marshall Airport
06/09/2023 – Small Biz Resource Connections: APEX Accelerator
07/12/2023 – Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Resources Lunch & Learn
06/13/2023 – How to Use Video Ads Online
06/14/2023 – Profitable Pricing: Pricing Your Goods and Services
06/20/2023 – Responding to Solicitations on eMMA
06/24/2023 – Access to Capital for Women
06/27/2023 – Strategies for Digital Marketing
06/29/2023 – Leveraging Your Certifications
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 join our social media community and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Let’s Get To Work! As a unit of the Executive Department, the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs connects members of the small, minority, women, and veteran business communities to greater economic opportunities. Learn more by visiting our website at goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @goMDsmallbiz.
