Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development (MWBD)

The mission of the Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development is to ensure that the City of Baltimore is prepared to create new opportunities for minority-owned (African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Native American) and women-owned (51% ownership) businesses in compliance with Ordinance 211 and the Mayor's Executive Order.

Objectives:

• Dramatically increase the number, magnitude and success rate of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in Baltimore City; and
• Dramatically increase contracting and procurement dollars spent with minority-owned and women-owned businesses; and
• Facilitate greater involvement of minority-owned and women-owned businesses in identified growth sectors of the City's economy (e.g. tourism, technology, real estate development).

Capacity Building Programs and Partners:

• Baltimore City Local Contractor Development Program - designed to assist local companies with technical assistance and bonding as related to construction projects with the Department of Public Works and the Department of Transportation.
• Annual Procurement and Outreach Fair - comprehensive procurement fair featuring workshops, business opportunities, and networking sessions with City buyers for all agencies.
• Women’s Business Forum – an opportunity for business women to meet other business women in and around the City of Baltimore and to hear from various City agencies representatives that procure goods and services that they provide.
• Small Business Resource Center - partner that provides training and education in a variety of business development areas.
• Baltimore Development Corporation - advocate for minority inclusion and participation on equity projects utilizing public funding, specifically for the West Side.
• East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI) - partner to link businesses for inclusion in all aspects of the development of the East Baltimore Biotechnology Park.
• Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development - facilitator for those looking to build relationships for business opportunities in City's housing industry
• Greater Baltimore Committee - partner to bridge the gap between small and large business entities.