Better opportunities for local and regional businesses Progress Energy recognizes the importance of supplier diversity in all aspects of our business and procurement practices. Through supplier diversity and business development, we are committed to the development, utilization and growth of diverse suppliers, including minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, disabled veteran-owned and HUBZone-located businesses. Our focus on diverse supplier development treads beyond the utilization of more than 400 diverse suppliers in 2008. Using diverse businesses contributes to the economic growth and expansion of the communities we serve. Therefore, it is our company policy to offer these businesses the opportunity to compete on an equal basis. The Supplier Diversity and Business Development mission is to:
Identify and evaluate certified small business concerns;
Include the participation of certified small business concerns in the procurement process and our business plans;
Increase business relationships and alliances between the corporate sector and diversity suppliers; and
Support and strengthen local and national programs that assist in the economic development of diversity firms.
In addition, Progress Energy assists in developing and strengthening business relationships with diverse vendors. We accomplish this by maintaining outreach efforts to seek, identify and encourage participation in our procurement processes, facilitating matchmaker meetings, increasing competitive business opportunities and informing these businesses of our procurement processes.
Supplier diversity also plays a corporate stewardship role when collaborating with the federal, state and local governments’ diverse supplier economic development efforts. Given the success and proven results of our supplier diversity efforts, Polk County, Fla., asked us to share our best practices with county employees in 2008. Our relationships with key community partners serve as an example of how the intentional execution of our supplier diversity policy can positively affect our diverse business communities.
Setting and achieving supplier diversity goals
Our corporate goal for 2008 was to use diverse suppliers for 9.4 percent of all nonfuel procurement. In fact, about 13 percent of the $1.6 billion we spent on nonfuel goods and services in 2008 (approximately $204 million) was with our diverse suppliers.
We encourage diverse suppliers to register to do business with us online at www.progress-energy.com/supplierdiversity. This tool is one way of identifying diverse businesses viable for inclusion in our procurement bid opportunities.
2008 Supplier Diversity recognition
DiversityBusiness.com named Progress Energy one of the top organizations in America for Multicultural Business Opportunities.
The Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council awarded Progress Energy with the Essential Piece Award for Board Member Service Excellence.
The National Association of Women Business Owners Raleigh Chapter awarded Progress Energy with the Lifetime Achievement award for strategic support of woman-owned firms.
The Edison Electric Institute recognized Progress Energy as a key contributor to the National Best Practices Workshop.
Better opportunities for local and regional businesses