Harrisburg, PA – In case you missed it, the Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s efforts to expand opportunities for small businesses through the Department of General Services (DGS)’s Mentor-Protégé Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to help Pennsylvania-based companies build capacity and compete for state contracts.
The Mentor-Protégé program pairs experienced prime contractors with small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses to provide hands-on mentoring, business development support, and guidance on navigating the Commonwealth’s procurement process. Participants receive individualized coaching, monthly workshops, and new networking opportunities within Pennsylvania’s vendor community.
Dr. Erica Patterson, Deputy Secretary for DGS’s Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion, and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO), explained how both mentors and protégés benefit from the collaboration:
“A mentor opens doors of wisdom while a protégé brings fresh vision,” said Deputy Secretary Patterson. “Together they strengthen small businesses, foster innovation, and build a stronger future for Pennsylvania.”
The Shapiro-Davis Administration’s commitment to creating opportunity for small businesses is delivering results: the Commonwealth is now directing more contracting dollars to small and small diverse businesses than ever before — including a 45 percent increase in spending with Black-owned and Latino-owned businesses over the past two years. For the first time, the Commonwealth has surpassed $1 billion in contracts with small businesses, small diverse businesses, and veteran-owned business enterprises two years in a row.
The expansion of the Mentor-Protégé Program is part of the Administration’s broader effort to open doors for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds. In July, DGS launched new Micro and Midsize Business Programs to support enterprises that have either outgrown traditional small-business criteria or are not yet able to compete with larger firms.
Now in its second year, the 12-month program has already seen success stories from participants who went on to secure new contracts and grow their operations.
Recruitment for the second cohort is complete — continuing the Administration’s commitment to expanding access and opportunity for small businesses across the Commonwealth.
Read the full article: Philadelphia Inquirer: A Pennsylvania Mentorship Program Aims to Help Small Businesses Get Government Work.
Learn more about the Mentor-Protégé Program online, and read DGS’s recent news release on the program expansion.