Event Attracts Small Diverse Businesses and Helps Drive Economic Growth Across Upstate New York
September 29, 2015
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – National Grid today held in Syracuse a business opportunity summit for local diverse businesses. The “Power of Connections” event brought together more than 200 diverse businesses that benefitted from networking sessions, workshops focused on ways National Grid purchases goods and services, one-on-one “matchmaking” with buyers, and insights on networking best practices.
The “Power of Connections” conference offered a unique opportunity for local diverse businesses, primarily those that are small women, minority or veteran-owned to gain insight on the “Science of Doing Business' with National Grid and offered business enrichment program sponsorships, on-site diverse certification resources, and financial backing opportunities. The event also emphasized the companies’ belief in community stewardship and the need to provide businesses with the opportunity to create jobs and drive economic growth.
“National Grid believes in the power and benefits of doing business with a diverse network of suppliers,” said Ken Daly, president, National Grid, New York. “We continuously look for opportunities to support local economic growth -- such as through our Power of Connections event -- and also to support diverse businesses in our local communities, while achieving cost savings on behalf of our customers.'
Business owners learned how to get ready to take their business to the next level and connect with National Grid’s procurement team, local associations and leading non-profits ready to support the growth and development of strategic partnerships and preparing businesses for the future. Workshops offered discussions on sustainability and tools required for businesses to secure contracts with National Grid and its prime contractors and procurement teams as well as learning about a powerful mentorship program and attain critical steps to position them to be an innovative leader in sustainability.
“The efforts made by National Grid to increase opportunity for women, minority and veteran-owned businesses are exactly what we need in our local economy,” said Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. “Onondaga County has put a great deal of effort into tearing down the barriers these small businesses face and providing the information they need to compete and win contracts. Having partners like National Grid focused on the same goals will help us all succeed.”
National Grid currently works with over 4,000 diverse businesses, generating more than $750 million in revenue on average for those companies annually. The cost savings that National Grid achieves throughout its supply chain enables the company to maintain stable rates.
“National Grid’s Power of Connections and the work we do each and every day to move the needle forward helps to grow small businesses,” said Carla Hunter Ramsey, director Supplier Diversity at National Grid. “Our work to promote diverse suppliers continues to provide cost savings for the company and ultimately for our customers too. It is a win-win.”
Small businesses make up 99 percent of all New York businesses. There are 537,838 minority-owned businesses and 594,492 women-owned businesses in New York, many of them small businesses, according to the New York Small Business Development Center.
“Power of Connections” events have been held by National Grid in its New York and New England service area to help businesses learn about current and future procurement opportunities for diverse businesses. In addition, executives from partnering organizations with proven records of success focused on certifying and developing minority-owned, women-owned and diverse business enterprises were on hand to discuss and share best practices with positive results.
'We can't express enough how important attending a Power of Connections event continues to impact our business,” said Jamar Milsap, vice president of Client Relations, Peachtree Supplies, Inc. “This should be a ‘must attend’ event for all vendors interested in doing business with National Grid. For us, we made critical connections among vendors and National Grid representatives that continue to pay dividends to this day.”
The event was held in collaboration with organizations that support small diverse business development. These included Syracuse University, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Center for Women and Enterprise, Upstate Minority Economic Alliance, WISE Women’s Business Center, South Side Innovation Center, NYC Small Business Services, U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center, North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center, NY & NJ Minority Supplier Development Center, NYS Empire State Development, and Women Presidents’ Educational Organization.
About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.
Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).
For more information please visit our website, or our Connecting website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook, find our photos on Instagram