Brand Awareness | Recognition increases visibility, making it easier for potential customers to find and remember your business.

Customer Trust and Loyalty | Being recognized can enhance credibility and trustworthiness, leading to increased customer loyalty and repeat business.

Competitive Advantage | Recognition can differentiate your business from competitors, showcasing your unique strengths and achievements.

Networking Opportunities | Awards and recognition can open doors to new business opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations.

Employee Morale and Retention | Recognition can boost employee morale, leading to higher productivity and lower turnover rates.

Marketing and PR Benefits | Corporate recognition can be leveraged in marketing campaigns, press releases, and social media to further promote your business.

Investor Confidence | Awards and recognitions can attract investors by demonstrating stability, success, and potential for growth.

Customer Acquisition | Recognition can make it easier to acquire new customers as it signals a reputable and trustworthy brand.

As you are reading or just relaxing at the beach this summer consider taking a few minutes to review recognition opportunities, reflect on your successes, and allow them to fuel future opportunities.

Have a great summer!

N. Scott Phillips



Director

Baltimore MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center

Submit your nominations in three categories for the Minority Business Development Agency's 2024 National Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Week Awards. Candidates will be selected for recognition in three categories: MBE Firms of the Year, Champions of Minority Business Development, and Individual Recognitions. MBE Firms of the year cross industry sectors, including manufacturing!

For more than fifty years, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency has played a pivotal role in nurturing the expansion and global competitiveness of the nation's minority business enterprises. MBDA has been a trailblazer in honoring the achievements and economic contributions made by these businesses, which now number more than 10 million. Award winners will be celebrated in October at 2024 MED Week - dates to be announced soon!

The Seventh National MBE Manufacturers Summit returns in person this year, September 22-24, 2024, at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Don’t miss this national, once-a-year event that brings leading Minority Business Enterprise manufacturers together from around the country to acquire new knowledge, analyze global market trends, and meet one-on-one with corporations and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). 



Each year, the National MBE Manufacturers Summit highlights Minority Business Enterprise manufacturers and individuals who have contributed to the manufacturing industry in a significant way through National MBE Manufacturer Awards. This year's award categories are...

• Legacy
• Breaking the Mold
• Making a Difference

The Baltimore MBDA Advanced Manufacturing Center is a Program Partner for the 2024 Maryland Manufacturing Celebration of Stars. This RMI of Maryland and Maryland MEP celebration recognizes “Maryland Manufacturing Stars” – people who work in business, education, government, or nonprofits who have made meaningful contributions to Maryland’s manufacturing industry.

The stories of these exemplary Marylanders are being featured in the Directory of Stars and will celebrated at the Stars Celebration dinner to be held the evening of November 14, 2024, at Martin's West in Baltimore County.  

Maryland MEP, in partnership with RMI and the Maryland Department of Commerce, will host a webinar on July 23rd to discuss the upcoming new round of funding for the Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 Grant Program. The program provides funds to small and mid-sized Maryland manufacturers to invest in Industry 4.0-related technologies, machinery and robotics, and digital business practices to remain competitive and drive growth.

Calling All Suppliers. OVG and Fearless invite you to connect with high-caliber, diverse suppliers with the equity-focused companies that reshaping Baltimore's future. Meet and mingle with representatives from CFG Bank Arena, Chesapeake Arena, Fearless, Kimpton Hotel, National Minority Supplier Development Council, Oak View Group, Pepsi, VSU Multi-Purpose Center, and others!

The Fearless Club @ CFG Bank Arena

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 | 4-6pm

• Crafting a Compelling Capability Statement | July 23
• Doing Business with the State of Maryland | July 25
• Prime Contracting in Maryland’s Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program | August 27
• Cash Flow Management & Projections | August 29
• Establishing Your B.A.I.L. (Banking, Accounting, Insurance, Legal) Team | September 24
• Subcontracting in Maryland's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program | September 26
• More!

Explore MBDA's commitment to fostering growth for America's minority business enterprises, fueled by a mission to create an economy of equal Opportunity.

Locate MBDA centers and programs near you.

The MEP National Network™ is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is part of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

Connect with your local MEP Center.

APEX Accelerators connect use with resources to serve as critical enablers to opening the defense industrial base to small, medium, large, and new entrant companies

Find an APEX Accelerator Near You.

Learn more about SBA's resources for small businesses. Get SBA business help nearby.

MBDA AMC proudly spotlights Edwards & Hill Office Furniture, a long-standing and valued client in the MBDA AMC family. Founded in 1998 by Managing Partner Tony Hill and Partner Hans Edwards, Edwards & Hill excels in providing furniture and comprehensive services for offices, schools, labs, hospitality, hotels, healthcare, casinos, and control centers. Their offerings include installation, interior design, moving, warehousing, project management, signage, sound masking, AV equipment, and IT products & services, ensuring tailored and functional spaces.

Some of Edwards & Hill’s notable projects include supplying and installing the furniture for the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Horseshoe Baltimore Casino, Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel, Philadelphia Live! Casino & Hotel, University of Maryland Medical System, US DOD, Exelon, BG&E, Constellation, Johns Hopkins Health, Johns Hopkins University, Hagerstown Meritus Park Minor League Baseball Stadium, and currently, the Baltimore Raven’s M&T Bank Stadium and Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana.

With over 26 years of experience, Edwards & Hill has built a stellar reputation for creating tailored environments in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, California, Missouri (with an office in St. Louis), and nationwide. They offer customized solutions for any furniture need.

Edwards & Hill’s dedication extends beyond business transactions; they actively engage with and enrich the communities where they operate through various charitable initiatives and mentorship programs. At the core of their ethos lies the belief in collective responsibility, recognizing that with privilege comes the duty to uplift others. Edwards & Hill embraces the notion of unity, understanding that by supporting one another, we strengthen the fabric of our society.

Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction makes Edwards & Hill a trusted partner for businesses looking to enhance their spaces. For more information on how Edwards & Hill can help transform your work environment, contact the company directly or visit their website.

Tony Hill, Managing Partner

Hans Edwards, Partner & Co-Founder

Applying for the Manufacturing 4.0 Program | MD MEP in Collaboration with RMI and the Maryland Department of Commerce | July 23, 2024 | Register

Supplier Connection Event Supplier Diversity Program | OVG and Fearless | July 23, 2024 | RSVP here

2024 T.I.P.S. Small Business Business Webinar Series | Crafting a Compelling Capability Statement on July 23 & Doing Business With the State of Maryland on July 25 | Maryland Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs | Virtual | Learn More

M&T Bank's Diverse Supplier And Small Business Banking Luncheon | Baltimore, MD | September 18, 2024 | View flier here.

NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange 2024 | NMSDC | Atlanta, Georgia, October 20-23, 2024 | Read More

TechTrends 2025 | SMART | April 3-4, 2025 | Atlantic City, NJ | Drive for Data Across America | Spring 2025 | Read More

SourceLink is hosted by our Center's operator, the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Small & Minority Business Advocacy & Development.