Alcorn hosts Minority Vendor Expo for potential vendors

Alcorn hosts Minority Vendor Expo for potential vendors

Alcorn hosts Minority Vendor Expo for potential vendors

Alcorn State University and WhereToGo411.com hosted the Minority Vendor Expo: Connecting Suppliers and Buyers October 1 at the Center for Ecology and National Resources on the University’s Lorman campus.

Businesses from the surrounding counties and across the state of Mississippi had the opportunity to meet with representatives of Alcorn’s various departments, promote their products and services while learning more about the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning’s Minority Economic Opportunity Initiative and IHL’s partnership with WhereToGo411.com.

Dr. Betty J. Roberts, senior vice president for University Operations, welcomed the audience and encouraged potential vendors to use this opportunity to acquaint themselves with the University’s purchasing and construction process. “Alcorn, as a minority serving institution, is committed to increasing minority business representation among the University’s vendors. There are opportunities that Alcorn can create for minority businesses to aid the economic development of our community. ”

James Covington, president, WhereToGo411.com, shared about the benefits and explained the process of registering on the web site that “can give minority businesses access to $3 billion procurement opportunities of doing business with state universities.” He stated, “It’s important that we support African-American businesses because they are the instrument of changing the economic reality in their communities.”

Kathy Times, WhereToGo411.com’s vice president, introduced their staff and shared success stories of businesses that connect with clients through this web site.

Carolyn DuPre’, vice president for Fiscal Affairs at Alcorn, said that the University is actively working with WhereToGo411.com and encouraged “those who would like to offer us products or services to register on the web site.
For more information on doing business with Alcorn, please contact Purchasing Director Ms. Mertha George at (601)-877-6154.”