Lt. Governor Brown Honored as 2012 Distinguished Leader of the Year for Minority Business
Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association Recognizes O'Malley-Brown Administration's Support for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
BALTIMORE, Md. (May 11, 2012) – Today, the Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association (MWMCA) honored Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown as their 2012 Distinguished Leader of the Year for Minority Business. The award, presented at MWMCA’s 9th Annual Spring Breakfast and Business Showcase Expo, was given in recognition of the Lt. Governor’s on-going efforts to support minority and women-owned businesses throughout Maryland.
Through innovative initiatives like Maryland’s MBE University Program, Lt. Governor Brown has traveled across the state to provide Maryland’s minority and women-owned businesses with vital information and resources to successfully grow, and create new jobs in their communities.
“Governor O'Malley and I have made a commitment to strengthening and growing our middle class and to expanding opportunity to all Marylanders,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Investing in Maryland's small and minority-owned businesses is critical to keeping that promise. These investments not only support our working families and create jobs, but they build a stronger, more diverse economy. I'm honored to accept this award on behalf of the entire O'Malley-Brown Administration and all who are working diligently to support Maryland’s minority business community.”
“Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown has proven to be a friend of Minority Business Enterprise,” said Wayne R. Frazier, Sr., MWMCA President. “As such, the Md. Washington Minority Contractors’ Association is honored to bestow upon him our 2012 Most Distinguished Leader of the Year for Minority Business award. We pray that continued compliance and concern for Minority Business Enterprise remains strong with him.”
Since 2002 MWMCA has been a member organization that advocates for minority business inclusion in all public and private procurement and believes that all sectors in America should be open to diversity inclusion. For its small business members MWMCA provides support, education, capacity building, and technical assistance to new and existing businesses. MWMCA monitors and facilitates inclusiveness, empowerment and opportunities for its members. MWMCA also provides certification assistance for Maryland Department of Transportation and Baltimore City’s minority business enterprise certification.
As the point person for the O’Malley Brown Administration’s economic development portfolio, Lt. Governor Brown leads the administration’s efforts to connect Maryland’s minority and women-owned businesses with greater procurement opportunities. Maryland has an aggressive and progressive MBE Program and has established the highest minority and women-owned business contracting goals in the nation at 25 percent. In addition, Maryland is one of a few states with an MBE law in statute and remains the only state in the nation to collect uniform reporting data including actual payments to MBEs. The O’Malley-Brown Administration has increased awards to MBE firms by 45%, (from $1.1 billion in FY 2007 to $1.6 billion in FY 2011) and increased payments to MBE firms by nearly 53% (from $752 million in FY 2007 to $1.15 billion in FY 2011).
