Lt. Governor Denn works with federally-funded office to increase access to stimulus opportunities for Delaware minority- and women- owned businesses.

Agreement with Minority Business Enterprise Center of Philadelphia will expand opportunities in Pennsylvania for Delaware businesses

For Immediate Release: Wednesday,November 25, 2009

Wilmington- Lt. Governor Matthew Denn announced this week a partnership between his office, the Delaware Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise (OMWBE), and the Minority Business Enterprise Center of Philadelphia to better help Delaware women and minority business owners receive information and access to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contracts, while also attempting to strengthen the climate for minority entrepreneurship.

Lt. Governor Denn, who oversees the use of federal stimulus funds in Delaware, joined OMWBE and the Minority Business Enterprise Center in signing a memorandum of understanding designed to better inform minority and women owned businesses about ARRA opportunities. This partnership will create opportunities for Delaware businesses across state lines.

“Small businesses, including minority and women owned businesses, are critical to Delaware’s economy,” said Lt Governor Denn. “This agreement will help us to make those businesses aware of stimulus-funded opportunities not just here in Delaware, but in the much larger market across the state line in Pennsylvania.”

Vincent White, executive director of the Delaware Minority Business and Entrepreneurial Council partnership, praised the agreement. According to White, "this agreement represents a major step toward assuring all Delawareans that minority businesses will not be under-utilized or marginalized, but instead will be viewed and welcomed as true economic engines in Delaware's recovery efforts."

Hosted by the Minority Business Enterprise Center, the Advocacy Office of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Advocacy Office) was established by the federal government in September 2009. The Advocacy office is responsible for the PA MBEC ARRA Advocacy and Outreach Initiative, a one-stop resource for information about federal, state and local contracting and grant opportunities under the ARRA. The Advocacy Office identifies specific opportunities in targeted sectors, including construction, weatherization, transportation, energy and broadband, and matches those opportunities with certified minority and women owned businesses and where necessary, will provide financing, bonding and other technical assistance. The office will also track the participation of minority and women owned businesses on stimulus assisted projects and report back to the Federal government.

The work of the Advocacy office will complement the efforts of the State’s Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise (OMWBE), which has the primary responsibility of helping to foster continued economic development and growth for minority and women owned businesses.

“This strategic partnership will be a key component to increase participation of minority and women businesses on ARRA funded projects. I am looking forward to working with the Advocacy Office and developing best practices for capturing minority and women business subcontracting data as well as developing strategies to increase their competitive advantage,” said L. Jay Burks, Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise.

The Advocacy Office hosted a matchmaking event in Philadelphia in October to which Delaware based minority and women owned businesses were invited to participate. Another matchmaking meeting will be held in Philadelphia on December 7, 2009. For more information, please contact L. Jay Burks at 302-672-5192.