3/3/09 Florida's Office of Supplier Diversity Hosts Delaware
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009
CONTACT: CATHY SCHROEDER, (850) 921-5266
~State of Delaware Office of Minority & Women Business Enterprise visits Tallahassee~
TALLAHASSEE- The Department of Management Services (DMS) Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) welcomes visitors from Delaware and California today. Although the weekend's winter storm cut the visit in half, the group is taking full advantage of the day together with a packed agenda. OSD, the Delaware Office of Management and Budget Office of Minority & Women Business Enterprise (OMWBE) and California-based Insight Center for Community Economic Development (Insight) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a state peer-to-peer match activity. It is part of Insight's Inclusive Business Initiative to support minority- and women-owned business development through research, policy analysis, and partnerships with the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
"Florida government spent nearly $3 billion with minority businesses in fiscal year 2007-08, and is recognized nationally as a model supplier diversity program," said DMS Secretary Linda H. South. "Supplier diversity is good for businesses and government in Florida, in Delaware and across the country. We are happy to share our expertise."
Similar to the mentor-protégé agreements OSD has in place between new and established businesses, the concept is adapted here with Delaware as the "protégé" state and Florida as the "mentor" state. The states share policies, documents, advice and encouragement, and make site visits.
"The state peer-to-peer match activity creates the opportunity for mutual learning of best practices to facilitate economic development through the growth and development of minority- and women-owned businesses," said Jay Burks, OMWBE director. "Sharing policies, documents, advice and encouragement with our Florida peers helps us grow and brings fresh eyes to our program, which often results in success."
The site visits, funded by Insight, send up to two people from each state, accompanied by Insight staff, to the other state. They meet with state officials and colleagues to share policies, program details, documents, and experiences, especially as related to specific policy or program areas the protégé state identifies. OSD Executive Director Torey L. Alston is scheduled to visit Delaware at the end of this month.
"Insight believes that strengthening minority- and women-owned businesses is a key component of the economic development of cities, regions and states," said Tim Lohrentz, Insight Inclusive Business Initiative director. "One component of the state peer learning community is this state peer match program that brings Florida and Delaware together."
OSD certifies nearly 4,000 minority-, women- and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in Florida. Under Alston's leadership, OSD increased customer service, improved communication and most importantly, created more opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
"As the mentor state, we are eager to exchange information and some historical perspective on our supplier diversity program," said Alston. "Our dialogue includes policy design, procurement process, certification, matchmaking activities and other business development initiatives."
More information about OSD is available at www.osd.dms.state.fl.us or call (850) 487-0915. For more information about Insight, visit www.insightcced.org/ or http://omwbe.delaware.gov/default.shtml for information about OMWBE.
Photo L-R: Tim Lohrentz, Insight Center for Community Economic Development; Delaware Office of Management and Budget Office of Minority & Women Business Enterprise Director Jay Burks; Florida Department of Management Services Secretary Linda H. South; Elaine Braithwaite, Insight Center for Community Economic Development; and Florida Office of Supplier Diversity Executive Director Torey L. Alston.