Free Program Helps Small, Minority, Women and Veteran-owned Businesses Compete with Confidence

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs today announced its 2020 Technical Training Classroom schedule, intended to support the small business community across the state. Offered at no cost to small, minority, women, and veteran business owners and entrepreneurs, nearly two dozen sessions will focus on navigating the state procurement process and improving overall operational efficiencies.

“We seek to help Maryland small businesses compete with confidence, and this program effectively reaches this community to provide technical information central to successfully running a business,” said Jimmy Rhee, special secretary of the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs. “We welcomed 1,200 attendees in 2019, a 50% increase from 800 the previous year.”

A portion of the 2020 curriculum will be provided by subject-matter-experts within state agencies. The Maryland Department of Commerce and the Department of General Services​ are joining the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs to cover topics on state and federal procurement processes, navigating the state’s e-Procurement platform, identifying small business prime contracting opportunities, as well as subcontractor rights and responsibilities.

“General Services is committed to connecting small, local, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses to resources that will help them succeed,” said General Services Secretary Ellington E. Churchill Jr. “With the information provided in this Technical Training Classroom, businesses will have the knowledge to compete and win in the government contracting arena.”

Small business owners and representatives from small business resource organizations will also lend their expertise to the curriculum, covering topics such as proposal writing techniques, elements of an effective capabilities statement, uncovering buyers’ behaviors, contract price analysis, and cash flow management strategies.

The Technical Training Classroom offers a morning and afternoon session on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except December). All sessions are held at the Governor’s Coordinating Offices located at 100 Community Place in Crownsville. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited and advance registration is required. Registration is now open for the two January sessions.

Prime Contacting through the Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program – An in-depth review of the statutes governing the SBR program, the online certification process, and the pipeline for identifying SBR opportunities.

MBE Rights & Responsibilities – A detailed look at what Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontractors can expect in terms of both their responsibilities, as well as rights afforded to them under the State of Maryland’s procurement laws.

Visit goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov to view the full 2020 Technical Training Classroom schedule.