Maryland increases MBE goal to 29 percent
Published on 09/03/2013
Gov. Martin O'Malley's office has announced that Maryland's overall goal for minority business enterprise (MBE) participation on state-funded contracts has increased from 25 percent to 29 percent for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015.
"Reaching our MBE goal for the first time in Fiscal Year 2012 was a major accomplishment," said the governor. "Together, we've made the better choice to increase the goal to help our businesses compete and win in a 21st century economy. By continuing outreach to our minority and women-owned business communities, we will continue to create jobs, expand opportunity and strengthen our middle class."
The Governor's Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA), in consultation with the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Office of the Attorney General, is responsible for setting an aspirational overall MBE goal every two years. To set the goal, GOMA takes into account a variety of factors, including the availability of minority- and women-owned businesses and past levels of participation by such firms on state contracts.
"We are constantly moving Maryland's MBE Program forward," said Zenita Wickham Hurley, GOMA's Special Secretary. "The new goal demonstrates our commitment to remedying discrimination against minority- and women-owned businesses doing business in the state contracting arena."
In its effort to meet the MBE participation goal, GOMA says it will expand its MBE outreach and technical assistance programs.
