Maryland, March 9, 2010 (Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce): The Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County, and The Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce celebrated their legislative reception on the 24^th of February at the House of Delegates.

Approximately 120 Hispanic business owners, representatives of several grassroots organizations, elected and appointed officials attended the event. Our prominent speakers included the new Secretary of the Department of Labor Licence and regulation, Alexander Sanchez, Delegates Ana Sol Gutierrez and Victor Ramirez.  Delegate Jeffrey Waldstreicher discussed a bill he has proposed to officially recognize Hispanic Heritage Month in the State.  .

The Chambers also presented a joint position on various pieces of legislation currently pending before the General Assembly and the Senate and which they support.

Among the issues we are supporting efforts to Streamline the MBE/WBE certification process and provide for transparency in the procurement process. Also we would like to see a continue strict adherence to MBE/WBE contracting requirements at the state and local level and the fact that it is important to provide incentives for businesses to hire employees. Other initiatives supported by the Chambers include SB130/ HB250, which requires the State recognize all minority/women owned businesses certified by one or more jurisdictions in this state or certified by the federal Small Business Administration as minority businesses able to do business with the State and qualify for minority contracting.

Please click here to see the complete list of issues.

http://mdhcc.org/

We are welcome members of the Hispanic business community to join us on these efforts and support these issues in 2010. If you have any question or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at customerservice@mdhcc.org . We will be happy to listen and fight for your rights of concerns affecting your industry.

Please also click here to see pictures of this event. It is good to count with the support of many our distinguished guest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9Z80AK4tAQ
Press Contact
Juan Munoz
jmunoz@mdhcc.org
240-686-0450
Legislative Leader
Joseph Morales Esquire
customerservice@mdhcc.org

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit http://www.mdhcc.org

Dear Business Owner:
On behalf of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-
Owned Business Developnlent would like to invite you to participate in the 9Ih Annual City of
Baltimore Procurement and Outreach Fair. This fair will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2010,
8:00 a.m. 12:OO noon at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore,
MD 2 1209.
The mission of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Developnlent is to
increase the success rate of minority and women owned companies seeking to do business with
the City of Baltimore by expanding contracting opportunities and procurement dollars spent with
minority and women owned companies.

The fair will include contracting opportunities and workshops regarding bidder registration,
certification and prequalification requirements. Representatives froni agencies and organizations
such as the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore City Public Schools, Department of
Transportation and Baltimore Development Corporation, will distribute information and
procurement opportunities. There will also be representatives froni State, Federal and quasipublic
government agencies, along with corporate conlpanies in and around the Baltimore City.

This is a great opportunity for your business to increase its marketing power by networking with
key staff that procure goods and services for the City of Baltimore and other government entities.
For more information, please contact our office at 41 0-396-381 8. Directions are attached for your
convenience. I am excited about your participation and look forward to seeing you on March
30Ih.

Pre-registration is not required!
Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development
Attachment
phone: 410.396.3835 fax: 410.576.9425 email: mayor@baltimorecity.gov

The Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you.

It is a great opportunity for you.

The Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County, and

The Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Support Efforts To:

• Streamline the MBE/WBE certification process and provide for transparency in the procurement process.
• Continue strict adherence to MBE/WBE contracting requirements at the state and local level.
• Provide incentives for businesses to hire employees.
• Provide access to credit and capital in order to survive in this tough time, and to grow in the good times.
• Provide incentives and opportunities for our businesses to “go green” in the new Green Economy developing in Maryland.
• Improve diversity by the appointments to commissions, task forces, and government officials that represent the rich diversity in Maryland.
• Ensure that small businesses are not hit adversely with unemployment insurance taxes.
• Continue the Small Employer Health Benefit Plan Premium Subsidy Program, which enables small businesses of between 2-19 employees to apply for a subsidy to help provide health care to their employees.

Specific legislation we support for the 2010 legislative session:

SB130/ HB250 Procurement – Minority Business Enterprises – Reciprocal Certification

Requires the State recognize all minority/women owned businesses certified by one or more jurisdictions in this state or certified by the federal Small Business Administration as minority businesses able to do business with the state and qualify for minority contracting.

SB131/HB251 Procurement – Minority Business Enterprises – Electronic Certification Process

Requires the State to enable businesses to apply for MBE/WBE status electronically (on-line application).

SB106/HB92 Labor and Employment – Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit

Provides a $3,000 state tax credit to employers who hire people between January 2010 and December 31, 2010 who have been receiving unemployment benefits or exhausted those benefits.  The limit per business is $250,000, and is available on a first come, first serve basis.

HB 484 Property Tax – Semi-annual Payment Schedule – Small Business Property

Requires that small businesses with real property of less than $50,000 in taxes can pay semi-annually (rather than annually as is the current case).  The property has to have a commercial use/zoning.

SB 546/HB923 Procurement – Minority Business Enterprises – Review of Application for Certification and Notice to Applicant

Requires the certification agency to notify MBE/WBE applicants within 120 days of submitting their application, barring extenuating circumstances.

SB133/HB 920 Commission to Study Streamlining and Increasing the Efficiency of the Procurement Process

Establishes a Commission to Study Streamlining and Increasing the Efficiency of the Procurement Process; providing for the members of the membership, purposes, and staffing of the Commission; requiring the Commission to study the procurement process; requiring the Commission to report to certain persons by a December 31, 2010.  The Chambers favor adding more representatives of the minority business community.