RICHMOND, Va., March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion reported today that it purchased more than $300 million in goods and services from diverse suppliers in 2010, a 31 percent increase over the previous year.

"The significant increase in spending with diverse suppliers is a concrete example of our commitment to bolster the economic well-being of the communities we serve," said Ed Baine, vice president, Shared Services.  "We focus on providing opportunities to diverse suppliers because it makes good business sense for our company, our customers, and our communities."

Dominion reported that spending with diverse suppliers increased from $239 million in 2009 to $312 million in 2010.

Dominion is committed to identifying potential diverse suppliers through maintaining active memberships with organizations such as the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, the Metropolitan Business League, the Women Presidents' Educational Organization, the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise and various local Chambers of Commerce and other advocacy organizations.

"Our partnerships with diverse suppliers translate into economic growth and increased employment opportunities in the communities we serve," Baine said. Products and services provided range from equipment and hardware to construction services and environmental consulting.

Diverse suppliers are companies certified as owned by minorities, women and service-disabled veterans and by those operating in a Historically Under-Utilized Business (HUB) zone.

Information on Dominion's Supplier Diversity program is available at www.dom.com, keyword "supplier diversity."

Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,600 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 14 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com. 

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SOURCE Dominion