A new partnership has been formed to create the Connecticut Supplier Connection, an initiative designed to connect dozens of large corporations with suppliers that have under $50 million in revenues and fewer than 500 employees.
IBM has selected The Business Council of Fairfield County as its first Regional Growth Partner. In that role, the Business Council will take the lead in developing the Connecticut Supplier Connection as a statewide public-private initiative.
Using an online standardized profile, thousands of small businesses across the state can be identified by the purchasing agents of large corporations whose combined spending power exceeds $150 billion a year. The comprehensive small business profiles make it easier and more efficient for large organizations to purchase from small companies.
The Connecticut Supply Chain Roundtable will guide the Supplier Connection initiative statewide. The roundtable will serve to elevate the awareness of Connecticut as a supply chain leader, provide benchmarking tools, and offer match-making sessions with suppliers and buyers.
IBM is one of the more than 31 corporate buying members registered on Supplier Connection and are joined by AT&T, Citibank, Facebook, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Pfizer, and Pitney Bowes Inc., among many others. Companies with a significant Connecticut presence currently participating include Pitney Bowes Inc., IBM and Pfizer. Going forward, Connecticut’s UIL Holdings will join as the newest buying member in the Supplier Connection.
A new Connecticut Supplier Connection Supplier Development Academy is being launched in conjunction with the partnership. IBM and The Business Council are partnering with a number of technical assistance agencies, such as the Connecticut Small Business Development Center and CONNSTEP, among others, to provide the specialized knowledge required to enter into large procurement opportunities.
