Governor Hochul Announces the 2022 Regional Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Online Opportunities Expo Series

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State will host five events as part of the 2022 Regional Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises Online Opportunities Expo Series. The expos – which will connect MWBEs with New York agencies, expert resources, information on state projects, and tools to access state contracting opportunities – will run from April to June.

“After helping my mother start a flower shop in our community many years ago, I’ve seen first-hand the struggles that a small business can face just to open their doors,” Governor Hochul said. “This series of events will help connect MWBEs throughout New York with the resources they need to continue on the path to success. As our economic recovery continues, it’s crucial we continue New York’s strong history of lifting up minority and women-owned businesses. “ 

The 2022 New York State Regional MWBE Online Opportunities Expo Series, sponsored by Empire State Development’s (ESD) Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development, will feature panel discussions, information on regional projects, workshops on special topics and other business development resources. The expos will also include information about state-sponsored financial and technical assistance programs, including the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, the Bridge to Success Loan Program, and the New York State Surety Bond Assistance Program.

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-Designate Hope Knight said, “We have an obligation to make sure our minority- and women-owned businesses have an equal opportunity to compete for state contracts. Every year, state agencies and authorities spend billions of dollars on goods and services – and our MWBE division is continuing to ensure the companies bidding on those contracts reflect the diversity of the Empire State.”

Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez said, “New York State is dedicated to ensuring minority- and women-owned businesses have the support they need while recovering from the pandemic, which is why New York has the boldest, most aggressive MWBE program in the nation. The Online Opportunities Expo Series will help break down barriers to resources to help MWBEs grow and access more state contracting opportunities, moving us closer to an economy that reflects New York’s greatest asset — our diversity.”

Jerome DuVal, Executive Director of Division of MWBE Development said, “We are excited to announce our 2022 Regional MWBE Expo Series as part of our latest efforts to empower minority and women-owned businesses through access to contracting opportunities in the public and private sectors. This year’s theme, “Gaining Your Competitive Edge,” has been informed by enhanced collaboration with ESD Regional offices to showcase regional contracting opportunities and training resources relevant to local businesses. Attending MWBEs will have an opportunity to identify regional projects that align with their businesses, network with leaders from state agencies and authorities and obtain resources they need to grow their businesses.”

Increasing the utilization of MWBE firms in state contracting is a central goal of New York’s MWBE program. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced that New York State surpassed its official utilization goal with 30.51{3e92bdb61ecc35f2999ee2a63f1e687c788772421b16b0136989bbb6b4e89b73} – the highest in the country – for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. More than $3 billion in State contracts were awarded to MWBE firms during the same time period, and more than $21 billion in State contracts have been awarded to MWBE’s since 2011. New York State has over 9,200 certified MWBE firms in its directory. 

The New York State Regional MWBE Expo Series is free of charge for all participants and attendees and will be held virtually via Zoom. Highlights include:

• Local Project Presentations by New York State agencies and authorities, and prime contractors including grantees. Attendees will learn more about project scopes of work and how their businesses can express interest.
• Networking with multiple State agencies, authorities, companies and organizations. Business owners can make real-time connections, share details about their goods and services, and ask questions.
• Workshops covering topics including business development, procurement assistance and access to capital. Each expo workshop will target a business topic relevant to the MWBE community.

The schedule of regional expos kicks off in New York City on Thursday, April 28 and will continue through June. Details below: