ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was honored last night by the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association (MWMCA) during its 9th annual Black History Month celebration. Ball received the Black History Hero Award, awarded to those who provide leadership to significantly improve the lives of African Americans in the communities they serve.
During his time in office, Executive Ball has increased business opportunities for minority owned firms doing business with Howard County government.
Equal Business Opportunity Program: Howard County’s Equal Business Opportunity Program (EBOP) has grown significantly under Executive Ball.
- In the most recent fiscal year, 29.2 percent of all county spending went to minority- and women-owned firms, the highest proportion in county history, and up from 18.8 percent in FY17.
- Of the FY21 EBOP spending, 25.5 percent went to firms owned by African Americans, totaling $16.4 million.
- Of 113 new business added to the program in the current year, nearly half were owned by African Americans.
- Decreased the number of waivers, with 104 waivers in FY17 compared to 64 waivers in FY21.
Local Business Initiative: Executive Ball has strengthened Howard County’s Local Business Initiative, which keeps local government spending in the community through preferences for certified local businesses.
- Howard County now has 300 certified local businesses, which received $15 million in government spending in the past two quarters.
- That is an increase from 2018, when there were 100 certified firms and $4 million in spending.
We have made a targeted effort to help locally owned business, and minority owned businesses, prosper in our community. We are creating the ecosystems so that small and minority owned firms can draw from the social capital in our community. When these businesses win, we all win.
About MWMCA
In 2002, Md. Washington Minority Contractors Association, Inc. (MWMCA) was originated by Wayne R. Frazier, Sr. to advocate for minority and women construction trade contractors because so much work was being completed without the utilization of said firms. 11 years later, in 2013, MWMCA evolved into Md. Washington Minority Companies Association and expanded its scope of work to include all types of companies: trade contractors, suppliers, and service providers. MWMCA has a unique offering of services with one mission in mind, “Connecting Large & Small Businesses to Work Together.” Please visit our website for more information at www.mwmca.org.