Gov. Wes Moore discusses small business ownership, state of Maryland’s economy in fireside chat

By Tashi McQueenAFRO Political Writertmcqueen@afro.comMaryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) spoke at a fireside chat on Maryland’s small businesses community and the future of the state’s economy on July 29.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) answers questions on Maryland’s economy by Jake Sherman (left) and Anna Palmer, founders of Punchbowl News, at a fireside chat on July 29.Photo credit: AFRO News/Tashi McQueen“We have some of the best entrepreneurs in the country, here in our state. We have some of the top institutions of higher education. The problem is we have not had a strategic plan,” said Moore. “We frankly made it far too difficult for a lot of our small businesses to be able to succeed. It’s far too difficult in the way that people have to go through the permitting and regulatory process. It’s far too difficult when it comes to basic access to capital.”Moore spoke on his work to help those striking out into business on their own.“We’ve tried to put together that strategic plan and level the playing field. One of the first things we started doing was working on procurement reform,” continued Moore. “ had significant capital coming from the state, but we never were able to actually...