Minority-Owned Businesses Gain Access To Top Maryland Tenants And Contractors

Annapolis, Md -- The Fort Meade Alliance and the Maryland Governor's Office of Minority Affairs teamed up to offer unprecedented access to top Fort George G. Meade tenants and government contractors at the sold-out Fort Meade Regional Minority and Small Business Government Contracting IT Forum.

The Fort Meade government agencies and defense contracting community is positioned for significant post-BRAC and future cyber-related growth, which offers new business opportunities for minority-owned and small businesses. Maryland has nearly 250,000 minority and women-owned businesses.

"With the completion of BRAC and stand-up of the U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, opportunities for contracting with federal agencies and teaming with prime contractors continue to increase," said Rosemary Budd, FMA president and principal at Booz Allen Hamilton. "Small businesses represent an important element by providing innovation and access to key skills."

The forum gave more than 250 representatives from minority and small business firms focused on delivering information technology services and products the opportunity to learn more about how to do business with top federal agencies in the Fort Meade area and how to partner with prime contractors on potential bidding opportunities.

"The Governor's Office of Minority Affairs was pleased to partner with the Fort Meade Alliance on this very important economic development outreach strategy to assist Maryland's small and minority firms with gaining access to opportunities with DoD contractors and federal buyers," said Luwanda W. Jenkins, Special Secretary for the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs. "This partnership further exemplifies the O'Malley-Brown Administration's commitment to promoting efforts that will ultimately create jobs and strengthen Maryland's economy."

Throughout the morning, participants were provided an overview of Fort Meade and the Government Agencies and heard first hand from Fort George G. Meade's significant federal government tenants - the National Security Agency (NSA) and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). They also heard from top prime contractors Axom Technologies, Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp. and Science Applications International Corp. on the qualifications they are looking for in potential team members and/or partners, as well as the opportunities available.

In a unique offering, attendees networked with Fort Meade Area representatives from Axom Technologies, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI, DISA, Fort Meade Alliance, Governor's Office of Minority Affairs, KatzAbosch, Lockheed Martin, L3 Communications, NSA, Northrop Grumman, Proteus Technologies, Raytheon, SAIC, TeleCommunications Systems, and Whiteford, Taylor & Preston.

"We are pleased with the success and strong positive feedback from the attendees at the IT Forum," Ms. Budd said. "We have already seen follow-up discussions with the small and minority firms about potential business needs in the Fort Meade area. Our partnership with GOMA, the NSA and DISA, as well as the primes and exhibitors, demonstrates the ability for public-private sectors to come together to understand how to do business in the government contracting arena."

About the Fort Meade Alliance

The Fort Meade Alliance (FMA) is an independent community membership organization created to support and promote Fort George G. Meade as a key economic asset for the region and continue to support Fort Meade's county, state and federal priority issues, as well as serve as a resource to help make connections that make a difference. The Fort Meade Alliance's initiatives include marketing the region; keeping federal, state and local representatives informed of Fort Meade's priorities and concerns; regional transportation planning and improvement implementation; science, technology, engineering and math curriculum development; targeted workforce skills development; business networking and opportunities and community service in support of the Fort Meade installation and regional needs.

About the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs

The Governor's Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA) is the primary advocate for the State's nearly 250,000 minority and women-owned businesses, and is a one-stop shop for information, referral, and support. GOMA is responsible for oversight of Maryland's Minority Business Enterprise Program and serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor on key MBE issues in the State. GOMA is also one of the 10 State agencies serving on the Governor's Subcabinet on Base Realignment and Closure and is charged with facilitating minority business inclusion in BRAC-related contracting opportunities.