Corporate Member Benefits

The Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (ChicagoMSDC) is a private, non-profit purchasing association, supported by membership contributions from major corporations and small businesses. The mission of ChicagoMSDC is to be the premier organization for increasing value-added business opportunities between major buying organizations and their suppliers.

ChicagoMSDC has a national reputation for its activities to develop partnerships between small businesses and major buying organizations. Corporate members benefit by expanding their link to the rapidly growing marketplace and by gaining greater access to qualified suppliers to source, which increases competition, reducing cost and improving quality. This fosters a transactional relationship with key demographics which can lead to a stronger local economy.

The ChicagoMSDC is a vehicle that can assist corporations in developing, marketing, and enhancing their supplier business development program in a productive and efficient manner.

Corporate Members are invited to leverage resources provided by the Council to facilitate and improve engaging small businesses. These resources include:

• Computerized Vendor Referral System
  A computerized database of over 1,100 certified Small Businesses in over 300 commodity and service areas.
• Corporate Small Business Program Support
  Provides assistance in establishing and expanding small business procurement programs through peer group meetings, seminars, publications and audio/visual materials.
• Purchasing Seminars
  To inform corporate buyers of issues and legislation impacting small business development.
•  Business Certification
  Nationally-acclaimed verification program to ensure that corporations have a credible source for suppliers, consultants and contractors. Small business certification support.
• Chicago Business Opportunity Fair (CBOF)
  The oldest and largest minority business procurement fair in the nation – assists major corporate buyers in identifying qualified sources of goods and services. Chicago MSDC hosts CBOF annually in the Spring!
• The Business Consortium Fund
  Provides working capital to small business members through certified bank lenders.
• Corporate Bridges
  An educational series that enhances the portfolio of business development skills for minority businesses, including sales and marketing.
• Procurement Breakfast & Luncheons
  Monthly business meetings designed to provide minority business owners an opportunity to learn best practices and “how-to-do-business” with a targeted major buying organization.

Are you interested in becoming a Corporate Member of ChicagoMSDC? If you have questions, please contact us.

At the same time, Corporate members benefit in many ways. Minority suppliers are the country’s fastest growing business sector. According to the Bureau of the Census, by the year 2020, the minority population will represent 34.4% of the total U.S. population.

As the minority population continues to grow, those corporations that are comfortable with cultural diversity and change, and are responsive to their customers will be the ones that thrive. Supplier diversity brings knowledge and experience that aids in understanding the world and competing effectively. As the chief executives of many of the country’s biggest companies see it, a diverse supplier base is no longer an option – it’s a business necessity.

We understand company’s goals to achieve supplier diversity while maintaining the level of quality you require of your vendors. That is why we offer many programs for the certified Small Business, to assist in the development of professional relationships with corporate members.

• Utilization of ChicagoMSDC certified businesses  saves corporate members money and provide an array of suppliers designed to diversify supply chains, which mitigates risks and translates into cost savings, , operating efficiencies and profits.
• The ChicagoMSDC is the premier regional organization of corporations interested in promoting diverse supply chains,  and supplier development initiatives. . The NMSDC has 4,000 corporate members nationally.
• ChicagoMSDC membership allows you to tap into the most accurate up-to-date database of certified  businesses in the country. The NMSDC has 15,000 certified small business nationally.
• ChicagoMSDC membership entitles you to numerous programs and activities that can assist your procurement  team identify certified small  businesses in all industries and sectors, including the Corporate Supply Chain Integration Program and Corporate Supplier Enhancement Program.
• The ChicagoMSDC (and the 23 other regional affiliates) have full-time professional staffs to assist corporate members accomplish their  supply chain objectives.
• The ChicagoMSDC can train and assist in the training of corporate procurement professionals.
• ChicagoMSDC membership allows your company to participate in industry specific activities that allow you to benchmark best practices in procurement.
• ChicagoMSDC can help corporate members connect to underutilized communities, benefiting from a public relations/political perspective, a human resources perspective as well as market perspective. Diverse  populations and the number of diverse  businesses are growing substantially faster than non-minority populations and  businesses.  By 2050 the United States is projected to be a majority-minority country.
• ChicagoMSDC corporate members have access to one of the most powerful quarterly e-newsletters on responsible sourcing  to advertise opportunities at no cost  or simply to share good news with the network.
• ChicagoMSDC corporate membership allows corporate representatives to take a leadership role in the management of the Council and to develop leadership skills that will benefit their respective corporate employers.

• Have an existing responsible sourcing initiative
• Report annually aggregate dollar purchases from small business
• Promote business opportunities for small business
• Designate a representative as a point of contact
• Participate in the local activities of the Chicago MSDC
• Commit to an annual support level