The Examiner?s April 19th article about minority businesses contained a quote stating that Gov. Robert Ehrlich is not providing “the support that is needed from the top” on minority business. The purpose of this letter is to set the record straight.
As a result of Ehrlich?s leadership, small and minority businesses now have unprecedented opportunities to obtain state contracts. According to the most recently available data from the Small Business Administration, Maryland is home to more than 475,000 businesses, more than half of them minority business enterprises. This number includes approximately 115,000 minority-owned businesses and 137,000 women-owned businesses. It is because of the governor?s leadership that that number will continue to grow. He strongly believes in accountability and is fully committed to leveling the playing field for small and minority businesses.
Ehrlich has worked hard to make Maryland?s MBE Program a model for the rest of the country. When he first took office, Ehrlich was presented with an audit of the 2001 MBE Report (dated November, 2002), conducted by the Department of Legislative Services? Office of Legislative Audits. It was the first audit since the MBE program was implemented more than 25 years ago, and it revealed serious discrepancies in the system. The audit showed that in fiscal 2001, MBE participation, reported to be 19.2 percent, was actually overstated by 40 percent in some state agencies. Upon learning this, Ehrlich empowered the Office of Minority Affairs to help solve the problem. He appointed me, an African-American businesswoman, to lead the state?s Minority Business Enterprise Program. I was one of his first Cabinet appointments.
Additionally Ehrlich created a commission, mostly comprised of small and minority business owners to bring change to the MBE program. He underscored the importance of this commission by naming Lt. Gov. Michael Steele as chair. The commission submitted more than 50 recommendations to Ehrlich. To date, he has implemented more than half of them.
An example is the landmark legislation the state legislature passed in 2004 that requires 22 state agencies to reserve 10 percent of their contracting dollars specifically for small businesses. He also elevated my position to special secretary, (the first in the history of the state) which provides OMA with greater authority to fulfill its mission. The legislation also requires prime contractors to identify MBE participation when they bid on a state contract rather than after the contract is awarded.
The governor?s continuing commitment to the success of small and minority businesses is well documented and will be further proven by empirical data contained in the 2005 MBE Report. That report will be released early next month. In light of Ehrlich?s many results oriented accomplishments in this area, I strongly encourage anyone having a conversation about the state?s Minority Business Program to include my office so that they can separate the facts from fiction.
Sharon R. Pinder is special secretary of the Governor?s Office of Minority Affairs.
