Building on Our Collaborative Strengths.
About Us
The Upstate New York Council is a non-profit minority business advocacy organization. Established in 1979, we are one of 37 regional councils in the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The Upstate Council’s region includes: Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, the Finger Lakes, Jamestown and Albany. Our corporate members and certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) receive extended outreach and access through NMSDC’s more than 3,500 corporate members –including Fortune 500 companies and 16,000+ minority businesses.
Mission
Our mission is to encourage and facilitate procurement and business opportunities between corporations and other organizations and MBEs in order to fulfill their respective/mutual business objectives. The Council promotes education and growth of Minority Business Enterprises, thereby enhancing the economic viability of our communities.
While Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American suppliers and companies have demonstrated that they can provide innovation, quality and cost savings they also help corporations and organizations to reach new markets. Since small businesses are regarded as the principal generator of new employment in the United States, your support of the Upstate New York Minority Supplier Development Council is very important in 2011 as we are turning the economic tide.
UNYMSDC shares the vision of many major corporations and organizations in which minority businesses have an opportunity to fully participate in America’s economic growth and in advancing America’s position in the global economy.
Working with minority-owned suppliers brings competitive advantages. As the U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse, progressive corporate leaders strive to develop a supply base that reflects the diversity of their customers and marketplace.
Primary Objectives
- To provide corporations and other organizations with information on qualified minority suppliers.
- To open the corporate purchasing and contracting door for minority business enterprises.
- To increase opportunities which contribute to the economic success of minority suppliers, as well as their employees and communities.
Services We Offer
- Certification of minority business enterprises.
- Local, regional and national referral of minority businesses to member corporations.
- Workshops and Seminars aimed at helping you improve your supplier diversity efforts.
- Networking opportunities that bring minority businesses and corporations together.
- A national computerized database of more than 16,000 certified minority business enterprises.
The Council is truly making a difference in the Upstate New York Community at large and the Albany community specifically. The Upstate Council Regions corporate spend with our minority businesses has increased by to approximately $212 million over our 2009 Corporate spend with MBEs.
Why Become a Corporate Member?
Working with minority-owned suppliers brings competitive advantages. As the U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse, progressive corporate leaders strive to develop a supply base that reflects the diversity of their customers and marketplace.
Upstate Council members recognize firsthand the importance of this strategy in achieving growth and winning new business. As a corporation or purchasing entity, joining the UNYMSDC compliments your company’s efforts to increase supplier diversity and membership represents a cost-effective way to identify new suppliers of competitively priced products and services.
Construction Industry Group (CIG)
- Facilitate procurement opportunities for Upstate NY minority contractors
- Advocate for Upstate NY minority contractors
- Offer educational opportunities
- Review, disseminate and act appropriately upon legislative information that directly impacts Upstate NY minority contractors.
UNYMSDC MBE Award Winners
Corporate Testimonials
“It is the policy of Eastman Kodak Company to utilize small business enterprises to achieve diversity in our supplier and dealer base in order to expand opportunities for all segments of society to experience economic progress and competitive advantage.”
“Xerox is committed to purchasing products, supplies and services from qualified diverse suppliers, this creates an opportunity for suppliers, for Xerox and ultimately for our customers who benefit by being offered the best possible quality at the best possible price.”
