Governor's Office of Minority Affairs
Small  Business  Bulletin - October 2016
Message from the Secretary

Maryland is OPEN for business, and for Governor Larry Hogan, it is a statewide effort. Today he is holding his cabinet meeting in Washington County and he will travel to Allegany and Garrett counties over the next few days. Since taking office in 2014, Governor Hogan  has worked tirelessly to grow Maryland's private sector, add more jobs, and create a more business-friendly future for our state.  On Friday, he will meet with small business owners at a special workshop focused on contracting opportunities with state agencies. We thank Frostburg State University for hosting the event at its new state-of-the-art communications and technology building. It is a great time to be in Western Maryland supporting Governor Hogan's quest to improve the quality of life for all residents. Together we are changing Maryland for the better by  making it a better place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.

Jimmy Rhee
Special Secretary
For Your Business

How Important is Forecasting to Your Small Business?
Forecasting is critically important -- yet, most small business owners are so busy dealing with the "here and now" that they don't stop and look ahead. That makes it really hard to grow your business. We've selected a few of the thousands of online articles on this topic for you:

To assess potential opportunities with the state of Maryland, check out our procurement forecast. It contains all anticipated purchases of $100,000 and greater through June 30, 2017. You can search the data base in a variety of ways and export search results to Excel to obtain the buyer's contact information, making this a very handy tool.  

An Unlikely Source for Small Business Loans
When looking for a small business loan, did the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) come to mind? Probably not. That's exactly why you'll be surprised by the number of loan and business growth tools it offers for new and expanding small businesses. Its programs are most often used to close gaps in financing when those resources are unavailable through traditional commercial lending institutions. 

Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop
We're celebrating National Women's Small Business Month on October 18 with a special presentation of our Ready, Set, GROW! workshop featuring special guest Yumi Hogan, Maryland's First Lady. Join us from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Glen Burnie for insightful tips on navigating the state's procurement process. Bring plenty of business cards because you'll meet buyers from multiple state agencies and connect with resource partners who can help your business grow. We're celebrating women-owned businesses, but all small business owners are welcome to attend.


Check out our full range of small business resources
Free Technical Training Workshops

The Governor's Office of Minority Affairs is conducting two FREE technical training workshops on Tuesday,  October 25, for small businesses that want to do business with the state of Maryland. Sign up for one or both classes, which are being held in Crownsville, Maryland. Ample free parking is available, but space is limited, so register today.
 
Navigating eMaryland Marketplace at 10:30 a.m.

Procurement 101 at 1:30 p.m.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Mark Your Calendar


Most business development takes place outside the office. We maintain a robust  calendar of events on our website, which is updated all the time, so be sure to check it often. Here are a few upcoming events.

10/19/2016 - Meet the Primes
10/20/2016 - City of Baltimore's Procurement Fair
11/5/2016 - Business Opportunities and Entrepreneurial Training Summit

Maryland is OPEN for Businesses, and the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs empowers small, minority, and women businesses to compete with confidence in the public and private sectors. Visit our website at www.goma.maryland.gov to learn more.
Governor's Office of Minority Affairs
  410-514-7780