Supporters of the Affirmative Market Program stressed on Tuesday the need for increased state funding for contracts that support disadvantaged minority and women business owners.

State legislators, minority business owners and the AMP Business Advisory Board said at the group’s second annual breakfast that they want to increase awareness about the program and make the market fairer for minority and female small business owners.

AMP works with business owners that have registered with the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance and are seeking government contracts that have been reserved by the state for SOMWBA-certified minority- and female-owned businesses.

“We are asking our legislators to support us in getting funding,” AMP Business Advisory Board member Josie Haywood said.

AMP holds vendor procurement training workshops; surveys business members; educates business owners in marketing their products, getting state contracts and networking; as well as working to educate legislators about the benefits of supporting AMP.

Supporters of the program said AMP has helped minority- and female-owned small businesses secure a steadily increasing percentage of the state budget, from more than $276 million dollars in 2000 to more than $367 million in 2004. However, according to AMP’s 2004 Annual Report, state department spending on female-owned businesses has declined slightly from 2003 totals.

“Our message today is simply SOMWBA certifies, and AMP is the next step,” said AMP Business Advisory Board member Janet Santa Anna. She added that AMP represents 776 businesses, but that she believes there are more in Massachusetts that are not certified.

“We can’t lose the momentum,” Santa Anna said. “We still have a lot of work to do.”

Several state legislators also said they support increased state funding for the program.

Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez (D-Brookline) said he felt encouraged by the number of certified minority- and female-owned businesses but feels there is a need for a greater financial commitment by the state. He added that there is a segment of the population that still is not participating in AMP.

“We need the governor to really step up to the plate on this,” Sanchez said, expressing disappointment that Gov. Mitt Romney has not made any changes to the current program.

Rep. Theodore Speliotis (D-Peabody) said that today, people expect women to be equally as successful as men, whereas previously, women were only expected to obtain community college educations and fulfill a domestic role.

“Our culture and society has blown away so many stereotypes, barriers and ceilings,” he said.

“I read a statistic that among young married couples under 30, more than 50 percent of women are making more than men,” Speliotis continued. He said that the state needs to continue to support AMP, even though minority and female business owners are becoming more successful.

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) also said he supported the program and encouraged business owners to reach out to their legislators on this issue.