Mission
The mission of the Supplier Diversity Program is to increase the opportunity for diversity in the companies doing business with Knox County by encouraging participation through site visits, providing education and support regarding policies and procedures, actively recruiting all interested suppliers, and ensuring equal opportunity in all procurement related activities.
Mentor Protégé Mission
The Mentor-Protégé Program was designed to increase minority participation for sub-contractors seeking to be a part of a County project, and to see relationships and networks being built among all of the participants. It is great to see large companies helping smaller companies become successful.
A mentor can provide a wide range of assistance including, but not limited to, technical and management assistance, financial assistance in account procedures and tax reporting, offerings of subcontracts, and assistance in the performance of prime contracts with the County government in the form of joint venture arrangements. The mentor and protégé together decide on the length of their relationship, and either party can terminate the arrangement with 30 days notice.
To qualify, mentors and protégés must meet a short list of qualifications, including having a Knox County business license and to be current on federal, state, county and city taxes. Applications are available through the Knox County Purchasing Division, Supplier Diversity Coordinator, Robert Minter, 1000 North Central Street, Suite 100, Knoxville, Tennessee 37917, 865-215-5756. An application is also available online at http://knoxcounty.org/supplierdiversity/
Save the Date!
- Knoxville Small Business Expo 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
12:00 noon - 7:00 pm
Knox County Health Department
140 Dameron Ave. Knoxville, TN
For more information call: 865-215-5754 or 615-736-7427
East Tennessee Veterans' Business Conference
Increasing Opportunities for Service Disabled Veterans
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
