Why Supplier Diversity Matters
Supplier diversity in community health centers is not just a value—it’s a smart strategy. By intentionally partnering with community based, small diverse businesses, CHCs drive measurable outcomes that align with their operational, financial, and community goals.
- Economic Growth: Keep procurement dollars in your local economy—driving jobs and community vitality.
- Healthcare Equity: Deliver culturally responsive care with suppliers that understand your patients.
- Resilient Supply Chains: Reduce risk by diversifying your vendor base, improving agility and responsiveness.
- Cost-Effective, High-Quality Service: Diverse suppliers often provide flexible pricing, quicker turnaround, and deeper engagement.
For procurement and finance leaders, supplier diversity is not just the right thing to do—it’s the strategic thing to do. It safeguards operations, enhances grant eligibility, and delivers on the mission of equitable healthcare.
CPG’s Commitment to Supplier Diversity
Guided by Executive Director & SVP Rich Napolitano, CPG is committed to building a healthcare ecosystem where innovation, equity, and community impact are not just possible—they’re prioritized.
Through intentional partnerships with small, minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses, CPG helps its members strengthen their supply chains, and reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. But the mission goes deeper With a focus on measurable outcomes, collaborative strategies, and a shared commitment across our member network, CPG’s Supplier Diversity Program is designed to:
Expand Access: Access high-quality, cost-effective products and services from underrepresented vendors.
Drive Equity: Promote inclusive procurement practices across the healthcare industry.
Elevate Impact: Connect supplier diversity to improved community health outcomes and economic resilience.
As Rich Napolitano shares in our upcoming video feature, “We believe supplier diversity is both a responsibility and a catalyst for innovation. It’s how we future-proof our mission to ensure every dollar spent supports better care, stronger communities, and a more equitable economy.” With support from LN Westgate, LLC and our cross-functional steering committee, CPG is aligning purpose with practice—and we’re just getting started.
Strengthening Healthcare by Expanding Community Impact
A Broader Supplier Base = Smarter Procurement
Incorporating all suppliers—both diverse and non-diverse—into competitive sourcing is a best practice. It ensures access to innovation, better pricing, and higher-performing vendors. But when small and diverse suppliers are brought into the mix, the impact extends beyond the bottom line—it creates jobs, grows businesses, and strengthens the communities CHCs serve.
Culturally Informed Care Starts with Culturally Aligned Solutions
Diverse vendors offer more than products—they offer perspectives. These insights help CHCs deliver care that resonates with patient needs and improves outcomes across varied populations.
Community Reinvestment Builds Trust and Resilience
Procurement decisions that include local and underrepresented suppliers put dollars back into surrounding neighborhoods. That’s how CHCs strengthen relationships with patients, earn the loyalty of staff, and demonstrate leadership to funders and partners.
More Options = Less Risk
Relying on a narrow pool of vendors creates vulnerability. Expanding to a wide, vetted network—including diverse suppliers—improves agility, responsiveness, and long-term supply chain health.
Efficiency Meets Customization
Diverse suppliers are often flexible, cost-effective, and eager to tailor solutions to your specific needs. That means better service, more adaptable contracts, and long-term value.
Introducing the CPG Members’ Crowdsourced Supplier Database
To help you act on these insights, we’ve built the CPG Members’ Crowdsourced Supplier Database—a centralized, ever-growing resource that includes all suppliers our members use.
This isn’t just a list—it’s a shared tool to:
Enhance visibility: Gain better insights across vendors.
Identify opportunities: Discover potential cost savings.
Strengthen your supply chain: Improve resilience and efficiency.
Create space for small and diverse suppliers: Foster competition and success.
Up Next:
How to Share Your Supplier Data
How to Search and Leverage the Supplier Database
Links to Data File for Uploading
Let’s put your data to work—and build a more inclusive, competitive, and community-driven procurement future.