By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
Mayor Brandon M. Scott, in partnership with the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), hosted the 49th annual Mayor’s Business Recognition Awards on Dec. 13. The ceremony celebrated 14 firms with an active presence in Baltimore, exemplary leadership and a commitment to improving Baltimoreans’ quality of life.
The winners included the B&O Railroad Museum, Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Elocin Global Logistics, Hon’s Honey, No Struggle No Success, Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures, Parity, Pimlico Merchants Association, TEDCO, The BIT Center, UnitedHealthcare, The Verve Partnership and Women of Valor.
“This recognition has always sought to inspire leaders across the City of Baltimore to continue innovating ways to support their communities and help our city achieve its full potential,” said Scott in a statement. “Collectively, we can address Baltimore’s most pressing challenges, create opportunities for growth and continue to strengthen our connections to one another.”
GBC reworked this year’s awards ceremony to highlight companies and organizations that align with its multi-year agenda, which seeks to propel the Greater Baltimore region toward a thriving future for equitable economic growth.
The awardees were required to demonstrate at least one of five categories that comprised economic opportunity, acting as an ambassador for the Baltimore region, local investment, supporting safe and vibrant communities and community development.
“The organizations celebrated with this year’s Mayor’s Business Recognition awards represent the type of transformation around economic opportunity that GBC has been working diligently toward fostering in the Baltimore region over the past 11 months,” Mark Anthony Thomas, president and CEO for GBC, told the AFRO. “We are honored to recognize these engaged civic institutions in concert with the Mayor’s Office and Baltimore Development Corporation and hope our platform amplifies awareness of the vital work they are doing to create a better Baltimore for all.”
Parity, launched by Bree Jones in 2020, won for its community development work. The equitable development company is headquartered in West Baltimore and uses a block-by-block approach to rehabilitate abandoned homes and create affordable homeownership opportunities.
In June, Parity unveiled its first two completed homes in the Harlem Park neighborhood, which is set to have 94 additional homes renovated over the next few years.
“I appreciate GBC and the mayor for recognizing our small but mighty organization, working on the ground to tackle the vacancy issue while building wealth for Black homeowners,” Bree Jones, CEO and founder of Parity, told the AFRO.
Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member.
