This week, HSC hosted a Meet the Buyers event at The Children’s Home of Cincinnati as part of its effort to increase the business that its 60+ member organizations do with local minority vendors. The African American Chamber of Greater Cincinnati helped organize the event, bringing in over 20 minority vendors to meet with a dozen of the largest HSC member organizations. In a “speed-dating” format, business owners were able to meet face to face with procurement staff of human services organizations to talk about the work they do and potential business opportunities. The ability of the participants to meet face to face helps build trust and allows more organic business connections to form.
HSC has established an Inclusion Roundtable comprised of its largest organizations with the goal of identifying and doing more business with companies owned by minorities, women, veterans and social enterprises. Soon we will have a database of vendors that can be accessed by all HSC organizations.
“Ultimately, HSC hopes to lift up local minority business owners and the workers and families they support by using the significant purchasing power of our member organizations.”
-Gina Marsh, HSC Executive Director
HSC organizations who participated in the event: African American Chamber, The Children’s Home of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Community Action Agency, Easterseals Tristate, Ohio Valley Goodwill Services, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services, Lighthouse Youth & Family Services, People Working Cooperatively, Talbert House, YMCA.