Georgia Power’s Supplier Development organization is the recipient of two prestigious national awards _ the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) 2002 Minority Business Development Award and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence.

The EEI award was given for Georgia Power’s commitment to advancing economic development in the minority- and women-owned business communities. The award will be presented to the company in Kansas City on June 16 at the EEI awards luncheon. Georgia Power was chosen for this award over electric utilities throughout the United States.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence was presented to Georgia Power at the 2002 SBA 35th Annual Industry & Procurement Conference in May. This award recognizes Georgia Power for taking proactive steps to provide solid business opportunities to minority, female-owned and small businesses. The award also honors the company for excellence among utilities.

“These awards are a significant honor for Georgia Power because each recognizes our extensive efforts to broaden supplier diversity within our company,” said Willie Palmer, manager, Supplier Development. “Earning these awards would not have been possible without the exceptional leadership exhibited by management and the commitment it has shown in support of supplier diversity.”

Georgia Power helps minority, female-owned and small businesses to maximize their participation in the company’s procurement process. Through its Supplier Development Program, the company increased spending for minority- and female-owned businesses to $112 million in 2001 from $65 million in 1999. The number of minority- and female-owned businesses the company works with has increased to approximately 500 since 1997.

Georgia Power’s goal for 2002 is to increase the 2001 expenditures by 8 percent.

These two national awards specifically recognize Georgia Power for its three major supplier diversity initiatives:

 Support from a leadership team made up of top executives from the company’s various business units, each with a mission to champion the goals of the Supplier Development Program in their respective areas.

 A Mentor-Protégé program designed to establish relationships between employees with buying authority and minority, female-owned and small businesses.

 Outreach efforts to minority, female-owned and small businesses during the past 12 months.