PECO is helping to power the economies of local and diverse communities by expanding its commitment to business diversity.

In 2023, PECO had its best year ever for spend with diverse businesses, purchasing $597 million in goods and services from diversity-certified businesses, which accounted for 43 percent of its total yearly purchases and marked the most spent with diverse businesses in company history. 

“As we strengthen our commitment to business diversity, we are creating economic vitality, which in turn creates sustainable careers and jobs for individuals to help enrich their communities,” said Doug Oliver, senior vice president of Governmental, Regulatory, and External Affairs at PECO. “Our commitment is intentional and is part of our broader efforts to uplift the diverse communities we serve, and to provide opportunities they may have never thought possible.”

PECO and its parent company Exelon offer programs to mentor and develop diverse businesses across the region. The Empowerment Academy helps educate smaller, diversity-certified businesses on how to navigate large business processes to better compete for contract opportunities. The program provides rigorous training and avenues for learning about PECO’s procurement processes, advancing the growth and development of each vendor’s relationship with the company.   

“As a recent graduate of PECO’s Empowerment Academy, it has been extremely rewarding collaborating with a company who not only cares about your business but wants to see you succeed,” said William Bowie, CEO and president of Empower Construction. “We are grateful to be a continued partner, specializing in distribution and construction work for PECO with safety and efficiency, and we look forward to future collaborations that drive innovation, growth, and success.”

Founded in 2021, Empower Construction is now a multimillion-dollar business managing utility projects across distribution, transmission, substation, project management, civil, and emergency response.

In 2023, nine local diverse businesses graduated from the PECO Empowerment Academy, increasing the total to 22 diversity-certified businesses that have graduated since the program started in 2015. The driving force behind the program is a strong dedication to both diversity and the communities the company serves. PECO has earned recognition as a leader in workforce development, advocating for economic opportunities, supporting businesses from diverse backgrounds, and collaborating with communities to create positive change in people’s lives.

Companies interested in working with PECO and other Exelon companies can register and provide pertinent information, including their diversity status, at Exelon Corporation.