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Lieutenant Governor Aruna K. Miller gives remarks at the 10th annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit at Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland on Nov. 11. This year’s event expanded programming to include tracks for technology and innovation, emerging entrepreneurs and youth-led enterprises. (Courtesy Photo) -
Veterans own nearly 7 percent of businesses in Maryland, according to the Small Business Administration. During the Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit, veteran-owned businesses received special recognition in line with National Veterans and Military Families Month. (Courtesy Photo)
By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The 10th annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit took place at Live! Casino and Hotel Maryland on Nov. 11, assembling state executives and more than 800 entrepreneurs for networking, resource-sharing and key information on state contracting opportunities.
This year’s theme was, “Future-Ready: Preparing Maryland Businesses for Tomorrow’s Challenges,” emphasizing the need for forward-looking solutions to help Maryland’s small businesses grow, scale and thrive. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses account for 48.6 percent of employment in Maryland. In 2022, they also made up the vast majority of the state’s exporters, with 5,806 small firms shipping $4.8 billion in goods.
The summit expanded its programming this year to engage a wider range of Maryland’s small business community, including sector-specific tracks for innovation and technology, emerging entrepreneurs and youth-led enterprises. Workshops at the gathering addressed a variety of topics, like strategies for financial management, registering with the state’s online procurement system and mental health.
In line with National Veterans and Military Families Month, the state’s veteran-owned small businesses also received special recognition during the summit.
