Montgomery’s Delegate Taylor Hosts State’s 1st-ever MBE Night in Annapolis
Hundreds of MBE's and mounds of politicians attended
(ANNAPOLIS – March 19, 2009) – The State of Maryland served as witness Tuesday night as the first-ever Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Night unfolded at the Lowe House Office Building’s Multipurpose Room. Hundreds, including members of the Maryland Legislature and state government, attended.
“I was proud to be an MBE that night because everybody showed up in full force.”
At the center of it all was Montgomery County Delegate Herman Taylor, a small business owner himself, who has been on the front lines for the minority business community in Maryland.
For instance, one of his legislative initiatives for the 2009 session of the Maryland General Assembly is House Bill 389 and is entitled “MBE Program – Prohibitions for Contractors.” According to Delegate Taylor, “This bill creates penalties for prime contractors who take advantage of minority business in ways such as withholding payments, paying off minority business subcontractors, or listing these minrotiy vendors on contracts with no intention on using them.”
One might ask: Is it really that difficult out there for MBE’s? Considering that there has even been talk by some in Annapolis over the years of ending the state’s MBE goals – yes! It is that bad.
Delegate Taylor introduced a number of key players in the ongoing MBE battle, including Governor Martin O’Malley. O’Malley has been the state’s champion for MBE since his days as mayor of Baltimore. When first elected in 1999, raising Baltimore’s MBE goals up to 35% was one of the first things he did.
Other MBE champions including State Senator Joan Carter Conway from Northeast Baltimore. This year, she and Sen. Verna Jones are pushing Senate Bill 612, a piece of legislation that “allows a woman-owned business that is owned by a member of a racial or ethnic minority group to be certified as both a woman-owned business and as a business owned by a member of a recognized racial or ethnic minority group under the State’s MBE program.”
In short, MBE Night was a huge success. From Delegate Dan Morhaim to Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson – there was no shortage of politicos. Nor was there are shortage of MBE’s.
As noted by Andra Cain of Cain Contracting, “I was proud to be an MBE that night because everybody showed up in full force.”
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