DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL & ECONOMIC MOBILITY

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

[photo, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland] 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; and the Office of Social Equity.

100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

OFFICE OF SMALL & MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

The Office of Small and Minority Business Enterprise began as the Office of Minority and Business Enterprise within the Department of Transportation. It was later renamed the Office of Small and Minority Business Enterprise. In October 2025, the Office moved to the Department of Social and Econpmic Mobility.

The Office certifies businesses for participation in the State's Minority Business Enterprise Program and the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. Designated by the Board of Public Works, the Office is the only State agency to make such certifications.

Established in 1978, the 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. 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.

The Office coordinates and administers the Department's Minority Business Enterprise Program and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.

OFFICE OF SMALL, MINORITY, & WOMEN BUSINESS AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUITY

Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance

Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!

[ Archives' Home Page  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright February 04, 2026 Maryland State Archives