In FY25, the County awarded $133 million in contracts to certified Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP) vendors. The amount represents 33.7% of the eligible dollars for the LSBRP — marking the highest percentage since the program began in 2009. More than one-third of eligible spending went to local small businesses.

For comparison, LSBRP spending in FY15 was $74.8 million, or 23.9% of eligible spending. Over the past decade, the program has seen a 78% increase in the dollar amount awarded to County small businesses.

“These numbers tell an important story about who we are as a community,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “When local, minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and disability-owned businesses have a fair shot, the entire County benefits. This year’s results reflect years of work to remove barriers and open the door wider for people who have too often been overlooked. Our approach is working. More Montgomery County taxpayer dollars are being spent with Montgomery County businesses than ever before. I appreciate the efforts of our Office of Procurement to achieve these successes.”

The Office of Procurement hosts and participates in dozens of outreach events across the region each year. In addition to monthly online Procurement Open House events, which can be found using this link: https://bit.ly/4804eQ3, the office co-hosts programs with many local vendor organizations, including:

• Maryland’s Black Chamber of Commerce
• Maryland Women’s Business Center
• Montgomery County African American Chamber of Commerce
• MoCo Black Collective
• Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs (GOSBA)

Earlier this year, the County hosted a “Montgomery County is OPEN for Business” event that targeted federal contractors. The annual Procurement Fair, held in early November, saw more than 400 attendees. These events introduce new vendors to the County’s procurement process and encourage vendors to participate in the MFD and LSBRP programs.

“For the third consecutive year, Montgomery County has set a new standard of excellence in inclusive economic growth, surpassing our own records for supporting locally owned businesses and awarding contracts to Minority, Female, and Disabled (MFD) firms,” said Office of Procurement Director Ash Shetty. “This year, 37% of County contracts were awarded to first-time vendors, a powerful reflection of our continued outreach and engagement with the business community. As we celebrate this achievement, we honor the dedication of our local entrepreneurs whose work strengthens every corner of our County. When we invest in small, local, and minority-owned businesses, we create opportunity, foster innovation, and build a stronger, more resilient Montgomery County; one that ensures fair, transparent, and equitable access for all.”