Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs Hosts Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop for Small, Minority, Women and Veteran Business Owners

Signature Workshop Promotes Procurement Process Insight, Highlights Existing and Future Opportunities for Maryland's Entrepreneurs

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs today hosted its signature Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshop for small, minority, women and veteran business owners at the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore. The workshop included insightful tips for navigating the procurement process, in addition to highlighting existing opportunities within 12 different state purchasing units and providing information about future opportunities directly from buyers.

“The Ready, Set, GROW! workshop is extremely unique," said Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs Special Secretary Jimmy Rhee. “Participants are given the opportunity to meet buyers from state agencies and learn what they are buying right now, as well as what's in the pipeline. That's powerful information for a small business owner."

The workshop offered vendors the opportunity to meet buyers directly during an open networking session that followed the formal program. Six resource organizations also participated, connecting participants to business coaching, operational, and financial resources for Maryland's small business community.

More than 150 small, minority, women, and veteran business owners attended the event. During the program, the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs recognized four successful entrepreneurs for their contributions to Maryland's small business economy. Each received both a governor's citation and a mayoral citation from the City of Baltimore:

Yun-Tai James Shiu – ECO Integration, Inc.
Antoine Hutchinson – FabPro Technologies
Jeffrey Hargrave – Mahogany, Inc.
Teaera Strum – Strum Contracting Co., Inc.

“The City of Baltimore is committed to diversity and inclusion," said Director of the Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development Paul E. Taylor “We are pleased to join our colleagues in celebrating these outstanding entrepreneurs and share valuable information about the opportunities for doing business with the City of Baltimore."

The Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs conducts four Ready, Set, GROW! Procurement Connections Workshops annually. For more information about upcoming workshops, visit the Ready, Set, GROW! webpage at goMDsmallbiz.maryland.gov.

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