By JOSHUA STEWART, Staff Writer

Small, minority businesses could win more contracts

It took Hollis Minor two years to get her company a seat at the bargaining table with the federal government.

And that was just the first step in a long and complicated process that small, minority- and women-owned businesses face when they try to land contracts with the feds.

Facing situations like Ms. Minor’s, and the likelihood for more as thousands of military jobs move to Maryland, the state is trying to make it easier for other woman- and minority-owned small businesses to sign contracts with Uncle Sam.

Officials see a study released Friday by the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs and the state Department of Business and Economic Development’s Division of Small Business as a starting point in simplifying the process for securing contracts with the federal government, particularly at the state’s military installations…More..