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# Inaugural Small Business Empowerment Summit: Connecting Businesses with State Contracting Opportunities

Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) hosted its inaugural Small Business Empowerment Summit. This two-day conference aimed to connect small, small diverse, and veteran-owned businesses with state contracting opportunities in the Commonwealth. The summit was designed to provide small businesses in Pennsylvania with a comprehensive understanding of Commonwealth procurement opportunities. It also highlighted the available resources for capital and showcased the efforts made by the Shapiro-Davis Administration to simplify the state contracting process for small businesses.

## Supporting Small Businesses in Pennsylvania

The summit represents the latest initiative undertaken by the Administration and DGS to support small and small diverse businesses. It builds upon the Executive Order signed by Governor Shapiro, which aimed to improve state procurement practices. As part of these efforts, DGS has successfully reduced the time it takes to certify a small business in the Commonwealth by an impressive 33%. Additionally, a prompt pay policy has been implemented to ensure that small diverse and veteran-owned business subcontractors receive faster payment for the goods and services they provide under state contracts.

The AI legalese decoder can greatly assist in this situation by simplifying and clarifying the complex legal language often found in state contracts. It uses artificial intelligence algorithms to decipher and translate “legalese” into plain language, making it easier for small businesses to understand the terms and conditions of the contracts they are entering into. This tool can be a valuable resource for small businesses participating in state contracting opportunities, ensuring that they are well-informed and able to navigate the contracting process with confidence.

## Collaboration and Education: Breaking Down Barriers

The summit provided a unique opportunity for members of Pennsylvania’s small business community to directly interact with DGS, Commonwealth agency partners, legislative offices, and other businesses. Secretary Reggie McNeil of DGS acknowledged the importance of creating this space for collaboration and education. He emphasized that it aimed to break down the barriers of trust and access that often exist between state government and the people it serves. The summit reaffirmed the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to inclusive procurement and highlighted the renewed efforts to foster meaningful partnerships between small businesses and the state.

## A Comprehensive Program: Highlights and Discussions

The summit spanned two days and consisted of various activities and discussions. Day one included opening remarks from Secretary McNeil, followed by a networking reception where small business members had the opportunity to connect with DGS and Commonwealth procurement professionals. On day two, three panel discussions were held, covering topics such as the state of small business in Pennsylvania, state contracting opportunities, and access to capital. Additionally, a state agency networking fair was organized to showcase Commonwealth procurements. The summit concluded with a luncheon featuring remarks from Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis.

## Continued Efforts for Inclusive Procurement

Kerry Kirkland, DGS Deputy Secretary of Diversity, Inclusion, and Small Business Opportunities, highlighted the progress made by the Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion, and Small Business Opportunities in simplifying the process for businesses to work with the Commonwealth. However, she acknowledged that more needed to be done. The Small Business Empowerment Summit served as a next step in connecting small businesses to the resources they need to be successful in the contracting process. The support of the Shapiro Administration was recognized as instrumental in moving this important work forward. It was announced that the summit would become an annual event, further solidifying the commitment to inclusive procurement.

## Executive Order Enhancements

Governor Shapiro’s Executive Order 2023-18, signed last month, plays a significant role in increasing opportunities for small and small diverse businesses to secure prime contracts with the Commonwealth. The order directs DGS, under the leadership of Secretary McNeil, to lead and coordinate efforts with other agencies to increase their total operational spend and participation in the Commonwealth’s Small Business Reserve (SBR) program. It also aims to foster more competitive procurement across all Commonwealth agencies. In line with this, DGS will post semiannual data on each agency’s total operational spend for SBR procurements. Additionally, a new methodology will be developed to determine the revenue limit for small businesses, resulting in an increase in the number of businesses that qualify as small businesses.

## The Pennsylvania Advisory Council for Inclusive Procurement

As part of the Executive Order, the Pennsylvania Advisory Council for Inclusive Procurement (PACIP) was established. The role of the PACIP is to advise Commonwealth agencies on ways to make state contracting opportunities more inclusive. Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis chairs the PACIP, with Secretary Reggie McNeil and Secretary Mike Carroll serving as co-vice chairs from DGS and the Department of Transportation, respectively.

## Diverse Panel Participants and Moderators

The summit involved a diverse range of panel participants and moderators from various organizations. These included Thom Webster, Chief Program Officer of the Black Squirrel; Elizabeth Walsh, President of WBEC-East; Regina A. Hairston, President and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce; Curtis Jones, Jr., Director of Government Affairs at the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership; Narashima Shenoy, Founder and Chairman of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia; Joshua Pollard, Founder of Omicelo; Alba Fernandez, Senior Vice President and Director of Lending at Community First Fund; Solomon Wheeler, Harrisburg Branch Manager at the U.S. Small Business Administration, and representatives from various Pennsylvania state departments.

Regina A. Hairston, President and CEO of the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ, DE, expressed her enthusiasm for the summit, seeing it as an excellent opportunity to break down barriers and provide access to information that allows small diverse businesses to work with the Commonwealth. Hairston also noted that it serves as a signal of the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s focus and commitment to inclusive economic growth.

Similarly, Solomon Wheeler, Harrisburg Branch Manager at the U.S. Small Business Administration, commended the summit for enabling the SBA to connect with Pennsylvania’s small businesses. He stated that it fulfilled the objective of helping underserved entrepreneurs and communities, which is a core mission of the SBA.

## Additional Efforts by DGS to Support Small Businesses

Under the Shapiro-Davis Administration, DGS has implemented several measures to ensure Pennsylvania is open for small and small diverse businesses. These include reducing the time it takes to certify small businesses with DGS by 33% and implementing a prompt pay policy. The prompt pay policy ensures that non-construction prime contractors pay subcontractors within 10 days of receiving payment from the Commonwealth. Furthermore, DGS has been conducting frequent Supplier Search workshops to educate small minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses about available contracting opportunities. The department also notifies businesses of upcoming contracting opportunities on a monthly basis to facilitate better resource planning and statewide outreach efforts, thus expanding the pool of registered small businesses, small diverse businesses, and veteran-owned businesses.

In summary, the Small Business Empowerment Summit hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services was a significant milestone for connecting small businesses with state contracting opportunities. With the assistance of the AI legalese decoder, small businesses can benefit further from decoding complex legal language found in contracts, enhancing their understanding and ability to navigate the contracting process effectively. The commitment shown by the Shapiro-Davis Administration and DGS in supporting small businesses underscores the importance of inclusive economic growth and accessibility in state procurement.

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