Are you looking for the State Office of Minority and Women's Business Assistance (SOMWBA)? In August of 1996, Governor Weld issued Executive Order No. 390, establishing an
affirmative marketing program in public contracting to encourage the
participation of minority business enterprises (MBE) and women business
enterprises (WBE) in all areas of public contracting. In September of 2010, Governor Patrick issued Executive Order No. 524 revoking Order No. 390 and merging SOWMBA into the newly created agency, Supplier Diversity Office (SDO).
Not only has the agency merged, but the statute establishing the purchasing programs for minority and women businesses, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 7, Section 40N was repealed on July 27, 2012 and replaced with Chapter 7C, Section 6 effective January 1, 2013.
