Executive Order opens new opportunities for small businesses and small diverse businesses, improve state procurement practices

Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2023-18 to increase opportunities for small and small diverse businesses to compete for state contracts, make the Commonwealth procurement process more accessible, and take actionable steps to help small businesses and small diverse businesses grow, succeed, and create good-paying jobs.

During their campaign, Governor Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Davis spoke often about empowering small businesses and small diverse businesses to expand economic opportunity and help build generational wealth; the Executive Order signed by the Governor is the latest step to make good on that promise.

"We need to do more to help our small and small diverse businesses compete for state dollars," said Governor Shapiro. "That will require policies like those I'm announcing today, but most importantly, it will require a Governor who gives a damn and makes sure these businesses are part of our collective progress. It's not just the right thing to do-it's the smart thing to do. By supporting our small diverse businesses, we'll not only grow our economy and strengthen our communities - we'll also create more competition for Commonwealth business and secure higher quality products and better results for all Pennsylvanians."

"I've seen firsthand that small businesses owned by women and Black and brown Pennsylvanians are vital to our communities. They are gathering places - centers for connection and conversation, and they are job creators and innovators," said Lieutenant Governor Davis. "We must support small-business owners by cutting red tape and putting resources into economic development and innovation. That's why today's Executive Order is so important. We're going to go out and actively encourage small businesses and small diverse business owners to compete for government contracts and become Commonwealth vendors. Small and small diverse businesses deserve a better shot at competing for state contracts - and the Shapiro-Davis Administration is going to make sure they get it."