Ready, set, grow event reaches Eastern Shore small business owners

Maryland business owners have a chance of landing a contract with the state of Maryland. Maryland is reaching out to business owners all over the state to inform them about procurement opportunities  offered by different state agencies through their ‘Ready, Set, Grow!’ small business outreach event on Wednesday in Salisbury.

“The state has a need to purchase a good, a service, or commodity, a piece of equipment and we can’t do it in house,” says Janice Montague, the Director MBE Compliance at GOMA.

 The State Highway Administration is just one of the agencies that can’t do it in house and want local businesses to fill the void.

Georgia Peake, representing the State Highway Administration, says “There will be some earth work, grading, there will be paving, and concrete, and drainage opportunities for subcontracting  small businesses.”

The effort is led by the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs or GOMA.
Opportunities for small businesses are posted on the E-Maryland Marketplace website , where business owners can place bids on state contracts for different projects  starting at $25, 000. The agencies will then choose the business offering the best technical solution at the best price.  According to  GOMA,  being attractive as a small business is more than having a good price.
 
April Williams, the Minority Business Enterprise Outreach Manager, says,”One of the best ways you can stand out as a small business owner and kind of boost your core competency is to have great customer service.”

GOMA officials recommend that small businesses  have a healthy cash flow and be knowledgeable about the procurement process to make them an attractive business to agencies.

For a link to the open bids on the E-Maryland Marketplace website click here.

For small businesses looking for more information to get MBE certified click here.