Secretary Gail Bassette Addresses Maryland Mayors Association: Emphasizes “Working Together”

Secretary Bassette talked about working together with the mayors to foster economic growth and create jobs. She also asked for their ideas on how DGS can improve its services to them.

Secretary Gail Bassette spoke yesterday to mayors from around the State at the Maryland Mayors Association business meeting in Annapolis. She noted improvements underway at DGS. And, like Governor Hogan in his State of the State address earlier in the week, she talked about “working together” with Maryland’s mayors to foster economic growth and create jobs in their cities and towns.

“We’re in acceleration mode to deliver services faster and smarter so we can serve our citizens better,” she told the audience. “It isn’t business as usual at DGS.”

“We’re identifying ways to be more efficient, effective and transparent in getting the job done.”

Secretary Bassette highlighted the Capital Grants Program, which directly benefits cities and towns. DGS facilitates the capital grants that are awarded to communities across the State. Those grants help with making capital improvements to high schools and colleges, sports/recreation and music venues and senior citizen facilities, among others. They also make neighborhood revitalization projects possible.

On the subject of economic development and job creation, she told the mayors that DGS procures more than $1 billion in contracts every year. “In alignment with Governor Hogan’s theme that Maryland is open for business, we want to work together with you to create jobs and foster economic growth in your towns and cities,” she said.

A staunch advocate for small businesses who established her own small business over 20 years ago, Secretary Bassette spoke about the innovative ideas being adopted by the agency to encourage more competition from small, local, woman, minority and veteran-owned businesses. For example, the procurement process is being streamlined; more aggressive and proactive outreach is being extended to the small business community; and training is being developed to help position small businesses to compete for and win state contracts.

She told the group that the Office of Business Programs was following up on the tremendous success and momentum generated by last November’s Business Opportunities and Entrepreneurial Training Summit by hosting smaller, industry-specific business information sessions where contractors can learn about State contracting opportunities. The first information session was January 28 for roofing contractors.

“We want to work together with you to bring these business information sessions to your towns and cities,” she told the mayors. “And we want to work together with you to improve all of the services we provide to your communities, so I encourage you to connect with DGS division directors to share your ideas.”