Walter Maxwell is the director of external affairs for New York City Department of Small Business Services’ (SBS) Division of Economic and Financial Opportunity. Through its W/MBE program, SBS has certified a record 2,200 W/MBEs, compared to 760 early in Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration. Last year, certifications grew by 39 percent. Since the program began, W/MBEs have won over 17,000 city contracts and subcontracts worth close to $1 Billion.

Since the implementation of the program in 2007, SBS has provided direct assistance to nearly 2,700 companies. In 2008, companies won about $450 million in prime and subcontracts, a 91 percent increase from $236 million in the previous year.

At over $16 billion, New York City’s procurement market is one of the largest in the country. Through SBS’ first two procurement fairs, more than 4,300 city contracts valued at nearly $58 million were awarded to W/MBEs.

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“There are two ways of exerting one’s strength; one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.” - Booker T. Washington

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