Expanding Economic Opportunity

As Comptroller, Peter Franchot is committed to working with partners on the Board of Public Works to ensure that the state is more pro-active in expanding economic opportunities and in particular, meet its stated goal of 25 percent Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation in state contracts to help create an environment where women and minority-owned companies can grow and prosper.

Comptroller Franchot has pledged to be a vigilant partner with the Governor to make sure that the bar is raised on the MBE program. We cannot get to where we want to be as a state if we continue with business as usual. Diversity and inclusion should not just be words on paper for us; they should reflect our core values and demonstrate where we are going as a state. Economic diversity and real economic empowerment is the engine that will help our state succeed and ensure that all are able to participate and grow.

As an example of this commitment, this past summer the Board of Public Works was presented with a $55 million Microsoft contract that fell far short of the state's goal of 25% MBE participation. The contract presented for the Board’s approval with only a 1% MBE participation. Comptroller Franchot worked with Governor Martin O'Malley to delay the contract because it did not include sufficient minority business participation. After some very constructive communications with Microsoft at the highest levels, the company has committed to investing time and money into expanding the number of minority businesses who will be experienced, qualified and able to participate in future contracts with them in Maryland. As a result of this effort, Maryland became the first state in the country to have entered into such a partnership with Microsoft.