--- title: Governor Moore Attends 11th Annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit canonical: https://marylandfeed.com/governor-moore-attends-11th-annual-governors-small-business-outreach-summit/ published: '2026-11-09T16:42:52-05:00' updated: '2026-11-09T16:42:52-05:00' author: MarylandFeed Staff section: Governor tags: - Governor - Small Business - Jobs - MDOT - Child Care - Housing and Community Development source: Office of the Governor of Maryland source_url: https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-attends-11th-annual-governors-small-business-outreach-summit publisher: MarylandFeed attribution: Copyright MarylandFeed. Quote with credit to MarylandFeed and a link to the canonical URL above. --- # Governor Moore Attends 11th Annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit On November 9, 2026, Governor Moore attended the 11th annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit, which brought together over 800 participants including entrepreneurs, small and minority-owned businesses, and state government representatives. --- ### Press Release: Office of the Governor of Maryland *Published November 9, 2026. Reproduced in full from the [Office of the Governor of Maryland](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-attends-11th-annual-governors-small-business-outreach-summit).* #### Governor Moore Attends 11th Annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit **ANNAPOLIS, MD:** Governor Moore today attended the 11th annual Governor’s Small Business Outreach Summit. The Summit, jointly hosted by the Maryland Departments of Transportation, General Services, Social and Economic Mobility, and Commerce, the University System of Maryland, and the Comptroller’s Office, sold out bringing together more than 800 Maryland entrepreneurs, small and minority-owned businesses, business leaders, state government, prime contractors, and community partners. This year’s theme, “Maryland Means Business: Leveraging State Partnerships for Growth, Building Strong Government Relationships,” reflects the Summit’s focus on strengthening connections between Maryland’s business community and state government. “Maryland is the best place to own and operate a small business,” **said Gov. Moore.** “To uplift Maryland’s small businesses, we’re utilizing every tool in our toolbox to tackle barriers entrepreneurs face when running their businesses, so that they can create local jobs, build up our local economies, and support our local communities.” The summit featured several state agencies who presented on the various programs Maryland offers to support entrepreneurs, small businesses, and their employees. Working together with its partner agencies, the Maryland Department of Transportation expanded opportunities at the summit engagement, including a new Small Business Solutions Session and a refreshed Matchmaking Session to make business connections more meaningful, targeted, and productive. “MDOT is transforming transportation into a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that millions of Marylanders can travel safely, reliably and efficiently,” **said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson.** “This includes using our procurement opportunities to invest in Maryland’s small- and minority-owned businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. Through these efforts, we can advance Governor Moore’s vision of a more connected and equitable Maryland, where opportunity is accessible to all communities and no one is left behind.” The Moore-Miller administration is dedicated to building up our local communities and ensuring small businesses are supported, especially in communities that have historically faced systemic barriers. Earlier this year, Governor Moore signed the Delivering Economic Competitiveness and Advancing Development Efforts, or [DECADE Act](https://commerce.maryland.gov/press-room/governor-moore-signs-legislation-enhancing-key-maryland-economic-development-programs), of 2026 to enhance critical economic development programs, making our state more competitive. Additionally, the Moore-Miller administration [invested $10 million](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-announces-10-million-support-small-businesses-and-high-need-communities-through) into fresh food retailers and child care providers, secured [$100 million in tax cuts](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-signs-fy-2027-budget-delivering-historic-education-and-public-safety-investments) for businesses and launched the [Maryland Community Business Compass](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/expanded-maryland-community-compass-platform-help-revitalize-neighborhoods) to get entrepreneurs the data and assistance they need to go from licensing to launch. In May, the administration also announced $3 million in financial assistance to support small and minority-owned business growth to help make Maryland more competitive, helping create 72 new jobs and retain 28 workers in the state. Between Fiscal Year 2021 to 2025, the [Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority](https://commerce.maryland.gov/financial-incentives/loans-financing/msbdfa) directly incentivized 2,450 jobs by leveraging approximately $33 million in loans and equity investments in Maryland businesses. On average, each capital commitment of $13,521 from the program’s funds generated a new or retained job in the state. Just last week, the Governor announced a [$4.5 million investment](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/moore-miller-administration-announces-45-million-partnership-neighborhood-impact-investment-f) to expand Baltimore small businesses’ access to capital and bolster the city's local economy. Under Moore’s leadership, the Department of Housing and Community Development's Division of Business Development supported small businesses by offering loans through the [Business Lending Program](https://dhcd.maryland.gov/business-development/business-lending), grants through the [NourishMD](https://dhcd.maryland.gov/business-development/nourishmd-grant-program) Grant Program, investment incentives through the [Opportunity Zone](https://dhcd.maryland.gov/business-development/maryland-opportunity-zones) program, and individual business consultations to identify small business assistance resources offered by the State of Maryland and its partners in local governments and in the private sector. Source: [Office of the Governor of Maryland](https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press-releases/governor-moore-attends-11th-annual-governors-small-business-outreach-summit)