BALTIMORE – More than 800 Maryland business owners flocked to downtown Baltimore for the governor’s minority and small business outreach program to connect with dozens of prime contractors.
On the second floor of the downtown Hilton hotel, hundreds of people logged on, shopped their businesses and listened to key sessions on how to take advantage of $7 billion in state government contracts.
“We bring together minority-, women- and veteran-owned small businesses and it’s really an opportunity to start a game changer for these small businesses,” said Tony Bridges, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation.
Through a variety of workshops, the summit aims to explain step-by-step the procurement process for a small business to grow with certainty and financing as it attracts main contractors.
“Because with a state contract, you know it’s going to last a couple of years, you can start hiring staff, make sure you have the resources, the technology, because you know that over time you’re going to get this long-term contract.” contract and the funds that come with it,” Bridges said.
West North Avenue Development Authority
And then there are newer entities like the West North Avenue Development Authority, which was created after millions of dollars in funding from Gov. Wes Moore’s administration to bring a renaissance to the once-famous West North Avenue corridor.
“We are 2.7 miles from MICA, which is close to I-83 to the 3200 block of West North Avenue, which includes both Coppin State University and the Maryland Institute College of Art,” said Theresa Stephens of the Authority. of West North Avenue Development.
By reinventing this renaissance, the West North Avenue Development Authority is appealing to these minority-owned small businesses to be part of this community, helping to build a better future for West Baltimore.
“Governor Moore thought enough of West Baltimore to support this effort because there really was a vacancy in that community, a vacancy that needed to be filled,” Stephens said.
“And now that they’re focused on a specific part of the city, what are the resources? Who are the small businesses that can help them do the things that they need to do in that small area of the city to really rebuild and turn it into the renaissance that once was?” Bridges were added.