About The Program

Supplier Diversity doesn't mean setting a hard number or percentage for demographic supplier representation. Supplier Diversity means understanding that emerging businesses in underrepresented communities (minorities, women, small to mid, veteran-owned and geographically) can add value to your company through lowering your overall costs, improving the quality of your goods and services, and better connecting you to your communities. Designing your procurement and purchasing processes to make sure that diverse businesses are included in the competitive process ensures that you're getting the best possible value for your business needs.

The Performance First Minority-Owned Supplier Best Practices Toolkit is designed for:

• Any company that wants to be more strategic about its supply chain
• Large companies that need a way to assess their performance/progress and move toward greater diversity with Best Practices.

This Toolkit was developed by the University of Washington's Business and Economic Development Center (BEDC)  for the Prosperity Partnership.  See Program History

The Toolkit is intentionally brief and easy-to-use, and when combined with consultation services and a peer-learning group, companies can maximize its effectiveness.

Join the Program!

"We at the Prosperity Partnership hope this toolkit will empower companies to connect with diverse suppliers, as well as go beyond established relationships to diversify even more. Our Puget Sound economy depends on great partnerships, great innovation and a belief that working together leads to sustained vitality and prosperity." -Bob Drewel