![[photo, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/images/buildings/1198-1-07694b.jpg)
The Department of Social and Economic Mobility was authorized by the General Assembly in October 2025 (Chapter 605, Acts of 2025).
With the formation of the Department, three main offices were brought under its direction: the Office of Small and Minority Business Enterprise, formerly part of the Department of Transportation; the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs, which had been one of the Governor's Coordinating Offices; and the Office of Social Equity, previously an independent agency.
100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
OFFICE OF SMALL & MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
The Office coordinates and administers the Minority Business Enterprise Program and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. Moreover, the Office certifies businesses for participation in the State's Minority Business Enterprise Program and the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.
Established by the General Assembly in 1978, the Marylansd's Minority Business Enterprise Program encourages minority-owned businesses to participate in the State procurement process (Chapter 575, Acts of 1978). At least 25% of contracts awarded by State agencies are reserved for businesses certified by the Office of Small and Minority Business Enterprise To be eligible, a business must be at least 51% -owned and -controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged persons who may be African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native American, female, or disabled. Further, a business must meet eligibility requirements for personal net worth.
Certification and Intake and Certification are overseen by the Office.
By affording economic opportunity to all citizens and including minority-owned firms in the State procurement process, the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs strengthens business development in Maryland. To strengthen such firms, the Office provides them with technical and management assistance, and promotes and coordinates programs. The Office also encourages State agencies to strive for 29-percent minority participation on all procurements and contracts as authorized by the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR, Title 21; Chapter 339, Acts of 2001). On matters affecting minority employment, rights, and interests, the Office advises the Governor and assists minority citizens, as authorized by the Governor.
The Office oversees four Programs: Mentor Protege; Minority Business Enterprise; Small Business Reserve; and Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprise. Further, the Office is aided by the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs; and the Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprises Advisory Committee.
The Committee advises the Special Secretary of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs on proposals to promote minority businesses in Maryland and the hiring of minority persons in the State.
Twenty-three ex officio members constitute the Committee (Code State Government Article, sec. 9-303.1).
MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE) PROGRAM
SMALL BUSINESS RESERVE (SBR) PROGRAM
VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (VSBE) PROGRAM
The Program also is aided by the Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprises Advisory Committee.
The Office of Social Equity promotes and encourages full participation in the regulated cannabis industry by people from communities that have previously been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
In administration of the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, the Office consults with and assists the Comptroller of Maryland (Code Alcoholic Beverages Article, sec. 1-322); and consults with and assists the Department of Commerce in administration of the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund (Code Economic Development Article, sec. 5-1901). The Office also identifies and opposes regulations that unnecessarily burden or undermine the legislative intent of the Office, including regulations that impose undue restrictions or financial requirements.
To the Maryland Cannabis Administration, the Office provides recommendations on regulations related to diversity and social equity applications.To implement free technical assistance for social equity and minority cannabis business applicants, the Office also works with the Administration. In addition, the Office helps businesses obtain financing through the Capital Access Program; and reports and makes recommendations on diversity and equity in ownership, management, and employment in the legal cannabis economy (Code Alcoholic Beverages & Cannabis Article, sec. 36-1401 through 36-1406).
Within the Office are four units: Economic Opportunity; Grants and Program; Research and Legislation; and Strategy.
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CHIEF OF STAFF
Five units are within the Chief of Staff's section: Administration; Communications and Outreach; External Affairs; Human Resources; and Information and Performance. The Counsel is also under the Secretary.
SPECIAL SECRETARY OF SMALL, MINORITY, & WOMEN BUSINESS AFFAIRS
The Special Secretary of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs oversees three offices: Small and Minority Business Enterprise; Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs; and Social Equity.
Within the Department of Transportation, the Office of Small and Minority Business Enterprise began as the Office of Minority and Business Enterprise. It later was renamed the Office of Small and Minority Business Enterprise. In October 2025, the Office joined the newly-formed Department of Social and Economic Mobility.
OFFICE OF SMALL, MINORITY, & WOMEN BUSINESS AFFAIRS
In 1980, the Office of Minority Affairs was created by the General Assembly (Chapter 25, Acts of 1980). It replaced the Office of Minority Business Enterprise of the Department of Economic and Community Development. In June 2017, the Office was renamed the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs (Chapter 634, Acts of 2017; Code State Government Article, secs. 9-301, 9-302). The Office moved under the new Department of Social and Economic Mobility in October 2025.
INTERDEPARTMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SMALL, MINORITY, & WOMEN BUSINESS AFFAIRS
Functions of the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs began in 1986, when the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for Minority Affairs formed within the Office of Minority Affairs (Chapter 719, Acts of 1986). In June 2017, the Office was renamed the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs, and the Committee became the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs (Chapter 634, Acts of 2017).
Created in 1978 by the General Assembly, the Minority Business Enterprise Program ensures that small business owners who are considered economically- and socially-disadvantaged participate in procurement and contracting opportunities throughout Maryland.
Certified Small Businesses are able to participate in the Small Business Reserve Program, which is a forum where small businesses compete with each other rather than with larger companies.
Contracts on State-funded procurements are provided to veteran-owned small businesses through the Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise Program.
VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
In October 2021 the General Assembly authorized the Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs to establish the Veteran-owned Small Business Enterprises Advisory Committee (Chapter 78 & 79, Acts of 2021; Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 14-604.1).
OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUITY
In June 2023, the Office of Social Equity was created as an independent agency that functions within the Maryland Cannabis Administration (Chapters 254 & 255, Acts of 2023; Chapter 241, Acts of 2024; Code Alcoholic Beverages & Cannabis Article, sec. 1-309.1). The Office moved under the Department of Social and Economic Mobility in October 2025.
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