DTE and Consumers Energy have made commitment to spend $15 billion with Michigan-based companies over the next five years through Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Pure Michigan Business Connect initiative.
The announcement, made at the 2019 Mackinac Policy Conference, includes a commitment to increasing supplier diversity, with Consumers Energy committing to doubling current diversity spend and DTE’s commitment to $2.5 billion in spending with diverse Michigan suppliers during that five-year time frame. Those include suppliers that are more than half-owned by people who are racial minorities, women, military veterans or who are LGBTQ.
“Today’s announcement sends a powerful message about our commitment here in the state – in both the public and private sector – to Buying Michigan,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “Expanding opportunities for the diverse range of business owners right here in Michigan is critical to ensuring the success of our state. I applaud DTE and Consumers Energy for their tremendous support of Michigan suppliers and continued engagement in Pure Michigan Business Connect.”
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist emphasized the importance of creating equitable opportunities to succeed in Michigan, whether it’s small businesses or skilled trades and training. Consumers Energy and DTE will each spend $1.5 billion with Michigan suppliers annually through 2024, for a cumulative Michigan spend of $15 billion. An average of 60 cents on every dollar being spent by the energy providers will go to a Michigan supplier during that time frame.
“Our Triple Bottom Line commitment to people, the planet and Michigan’s prosperity means that we are looking out for our state, doing business with employers in the communities we serve and putting more people to work in the process,” Consumers Energy President and CEO Patti Poppe said in a statement. “We spent over $5 billion with Michigan businesses in the last four years and look forward to doing even more in the future.”
DTE and Consumers Energy are founding members of the Pure Michigan Business Connect program — an MEDC initiative that works across industries to connect small- to medium-sized Michigan suppliers with local, national and global purchasers to explore new business opportunities. This announcement builds on $11 billion previously committed and achieved more than a year ahead of schedule.
“Our investment in Michigan businesses has created or retained 24,000 jobs over the past nine years,” DTE Chairman and CEO Gerry Anderson said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to create growth opportunities for hard-working business owners in our state, and we will continue to urge our large suppliers to focus sourcing from within Michigan as well.”
To date, PMBC has spearheaded connections among suppliers and purchasers that have facilitated more than $8 billion in new contracts and purchase orders between global companies and qualified Michigan-based companies across 76 industries, all while creating or retaining more than 40,000 jobs in Michigan.
