Pa. expanding program to support small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses

The Shapiro-Davis Administration is expanding the Mentor-Protégé Program to support more small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses.

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) announced Tuesday the launch of the second cohort of the Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP). According to a release, the program pairs experienced contractors with small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses to help them grow, compete, and gain state contracts.

“The Shapiro-Davis Administration is laser-focused on creating ladders of opportunity for small businesses to grow,” Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis said in a statement. “The Mentor-Protégé Program isn’t a handout – it’s a helping hand for small-business owners and entrepreneurs that are based right here in Pennsylvania.”

This year’s program focuses on vendors approved under the Consulting Services Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) contract. Over the 12-month cohort, participating protégés will receive targeted guidance on navigating state procurement, meeting contract requirements, and identifying growth opportunities.

Program benefits for Mentor-Protégé participants include the following:

• Targeted skill development and business growth.
• Access to mentor expertise and best practices.
• Networking within Pennsylvania’s vendor community.
• Personalized guidance to meet business goals.

Mentors must be active commonwealth prime contractors in good standing with at least one contract award of $300,000 or more in the past three years. Protégés must be verified as a Small Diverse Business or Veteran Business Enterprise by DGS and listed on Consulting Services ITQ.

Pennsylvania is channeling more contracting dollars to small and small diverse businesses than ever before – including a 45% increase in spending with Black-owned and Latino-owned businesses over the past two years. For the first time, Pennsylvania has surpassed $1 billion in contracts with small businesses, small diverse businesses, and veteran-owned business enterprises two years in a row.

Earlier this summer, DGS launched Micro and Midsize Business Programs to support enterprises that have outgrown traditional small-business criteria or are not yet able to compete with larger firms.

“We know programs like MPP and the Micro and Midsized Business Program work,” DGS Secretary Reggie McNeil said. “By connecting experienced contractors with businesses eager to grow, we’re strengthening our vendor community, increasing competition, and driving innovation in state contracting.”

Interested firms can apply online. Vendors not yet on Consulting Services ITQ may also begin the prequalification process online to become eligible.