Empire State Development Announces Registration Open For 16th Annual Minority- And Women-Owned Business Enterprise Forum
Forum Theme, "Making Government Work for You," Marks 38 Years of New York's MWBE Program and the State's Commitment to Small Businesses
Event Features Hands-On Workshops, Expert Panels, an Opportunity Showcase and the MWBE Champions Awards
November 17 Event to Take Place at Albany Capital Center
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that registration is open for the 16th Annual New York State Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Forum, taking place Tuesday, November 17 at the Albany Capital Center. This year’s theme, “Making Government Work for You,” highlights how targeted State investments, a streamlined certification process and reduced administrative barriers are helping minority- and women-owned businesses access State contracting opportunities. The Forum will provide business owners with resources, connections and practical tools to compete for contracts and grow their businesses. The Forum agenda and registration form are available here.
“New York’s MWBE program was built on a simple idea: when government opens its doors to every entrepreneur, our entire economy grows stronger,” Governor Hochul said. “For 38 years, this program has helped minority- and women-owned businesses compete for State contracts, and through EXPRESS NY we’re cutting the red tape that too often stood in their way. This year’s Forum is about showing business owners that government is working for them, and giving them the tools to grow.”
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “MWBEs are an essential part of New York’s economic development ecosystem, strengthening communities, creating jobs and contributing to projects across every region of the state. This Forum gives businesses direct access to the information, relationships and opportunities they need to compete for contracts, expand their operations and position themselves for long-term growth.”
New York State Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez said, “For nearly four decades, New York’s MWBE program has helped create a more inclusive and equitable marketplace for businesses across the state. This year’s Forum reflects our continued commitment to removing barriers, strengthening access to opportunity and ensuring that more entrepreneurs can participate fully in New York’s economy.”
ESD Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development Executive Director Jason M. Clark, Esq. said, “The MWBE Forum is designed to give businesses practical tools they can put to work immediately — from understanding procurement and financing to preparing stronger bids and connecting directly with decision-makers. This year, we are also highlighting new resources like the Empire State MWBE Hub that are making it simpler for businesses to engage with the State and pursue new opportunities.”
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “The annual MWBE forums help ensure that diverse firms have meaningful access to State contracting opportunities. Last year, NYPA spent more than $238 million working with diverse firms across the organization’s portfolio, reflecting our continued work to broaden participation in the energy sector and support economic growth across the state.”
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “The annual MWBE Forum is a critical tool to expand opportunities and forge connections among minority- and women-owned businesses across New York. At HCR, we are incredibly proud of our work to ensure that MWBEs are represented in affordable housing procurement and contracting opportunities. Equal opportunity for all New Yorkers powers our state’s economic growth, and it starts with empowering historically marginalized business leaders.”
MTA Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Lourdes Zapata said, “We are delighted to participate once again in the MWBE Forum, which serves as a vital resource for the small businesses who help us move New York. The MTA is committed to being a strong community partner and has allocated a historic $6.5 billion in contract awards to small construction companies as part of the 2025-2029 Capital Plan. We encourage MWBEs to participate in this event so they can unlock connections and other resources to help them succeed.”
DASNY President & CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “The annual MWBE Forum is an important opportunity to connect minority- and women-owned businesses with the resources, relationships and information they need to compete for state contracts. At DASNY, we're proud of our work to expand MWBE participation across the construction and infrastructure projects we support throughout New York State. We look forward to engaging with business owners at this year's Forum and helping them identify opportunities to grow and succeed.”
State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The MWBE Forum is an excellent resource to share information and learn how to access state opportunities with the New York State Department of Transportation and other state agencies – leading to economic development and job expansion. This type of exchange ultimately helps break down barriers; providing tools, information and support to MWBE businesses to help them make connections and grow – all of which makes for a better New York.”
Since its establishment in 1988, New York State's MWBE program has expanded economic opportunity and driven business growth in communities across the state. The annual Forum builds on that legacy, offering tailored resources, expert-led panels, interactive workshops and networking opportunities that connect MWBEs directly with State agencies, prime contractors and private-sector partners.
This year's event will showcase the new Empire State MWBE Hub, a modernized, cloud-based platform recently launched to streamline the MWBE certification process. The Hub is a major milestone in EXPRESS NY, Governor Hochul's statewide initiative to eliminate outdated and burdensome regulations, policies and practices.
The Forum will also host the annual MWBE Champions Awards Luncheon, honoring government partners, business service providers, growth-oriented MWBEs and advocates who have shown exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing MWBE communities statewide.
2026 MWBE Forum Panels and Workshops include:
Project Labor Agreements (PLA): A Statewide Working Session for MWBE Contractors – New York is advancing major capital projects across industries including semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy and transmission, many of which are covered by Project Labor Agreements. This session will provide an overview of active and upcoming PLAs, followed by a readiness assessment focused on bonding capacity, workforce composition, prequalification status and back-office capabilities. Participants will also hear from union, agency and prime contractor representatives about positioning their businesses to compete for union construction contracts.
Winning Bids Playbook: Using AI to Respond to RFPs and Bids — Every hour spent rewriting an RFP is an hour not spent selling. This hands-on workshop will explore how MWBEs can use artificial intelligence tools to compete for State solicitations and improve back-office efficiency. Participants will learn how AI can help analyze RFPs and bids, develop compliance checklists, adapt past performance into reusable proposal language and refine scope narratives. The session will also cover uses for quotes, invoices, job descriptions and customer follow-up, with participants encouraged to bring a laptop and solicitation to develop a working draft during the Forum.
How New York State is Streamlining Government Services and Cutting Red Tape — In June 2026, Governor Hochul launched EXPRESS NY to reduce administrative burdens and improve government efficiency. This discussion will highlight efforts to streamline the MWBE certification process and other State initiatives designed to make government services easier for businesses to navigate.
The MWBE Growth Blueprint: Capital, Bonding and Expansion — Building a successful business requires access to capital, strong financial tools and a long-term growth strategy. This panel will focus on the financial foundations MWBEs need to scale and compete for larger contracts, including accessing financing through traditional lenders and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), understanding surety bonding and strengthening business operations for sustainable growth.
Industry Codes & Union Shop Reviews: Unlocking the Full Potential of your NYS MWBE Certification — This session will address two complex areas of the MWBE certification process: documentation requirements for securing appropriate industry codes and the criteria union shops must meet to demonstrate independent operations and control. Participants will receive practical guidance on navigating both processes.
Opportunity Showcase — The Opportunity Showcase highlights major economic development projects across New York State. MWBEs will learn how to access contracting opportunities and connect directly with project leads. Along with presentations from State agencies and private companies, the Showcase will feature a spotlight on the new Buffalo Bills stadium.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.
Contact:
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