Why was DPS created?
The DPS program was developed in response to increasing demand from companies and government agencies for solutions to increase their diversity spending volume. According to The National Minority Supplier Development Council, corporations spent more than $50 billion in 2000 (up from approximately $45 billion in 1999) in the procurement of goods and services from minority-owned businesses. In addition, large companies and government agencies are increasing their diversity spending volume. This is especially true of companies that sell directly to consumers because these companies are responding to changing marketplace demographics. Minority consumers today represent more than $1.3 trillion in consumer buying power, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, which means that large companies want to capitalize on this buying power by supporting progressive diversity spending programs like DPS.
