Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 11, 1993 TAG: 9302110136
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
VIRGINIA OPENS BUYER PIPELINE
A computer system designed to encourage purchase of products from 400 Southwest Virginia companies through the Virginia Procurement Pipeline was introduced Wednesday in Richmond.The project, a database developed at Virginia Tech for the Virginia Economic Bridge Initiative, eventually will link the demand of Northern Virginia buyers with suppliers in Southwest Virginia, according to Lt. Gov. Don Beyer.
Twelve pilot users - including Carter Machinery Co. in Salem, Roanoke Electric Steel Corp. and Virginia Tech - have signed to begin buying through the pipeline. Its organizers hope to have the system ready for public use by July, according to Charlotte Reed of Virginia Tech and coordinator of the economic bridge program.
In one of the pipeline's first operations, Mobil Corp. of Fairfax bought $3.2 million worth of uniforms for employees at 12,000 service stations. They will be provided by Crest Uniform Inc. of Salem and manufactured by Lebanon Apparel Corp., an affiliate of Maid Bess Corp. of Salem.
Plans are being made to include data from a client base at Hampton University, Reed said. That will add another 150 participants.
Working with George Mason University, the bridge initiative leaders found that Virginia's major companies often buy from outside the state.
Many doors will be opened for suppliers and purchasers, Reed said, and companies seeking to explore new products or buy from minority-owned firms will have more efficient searches and delivery.
Among the information provided in the database is a company's products or services, the type of ownership, years of operation and number of employees.