Program creates a win-win for local entrepreneurs, anchor members, and the local and regional economy
Inter-City Supply has been providing soap, hand sanitizer and paper towels to University of Chicago Medicine since 2004. With an expanded hand-washing research project underway at the Center for Care and Discovery, led by Dr. Emily Landon, Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control, and Silvia Garcia-Houchins, Director of the Infection Control Program, the medical center is expecting soap use to increase by 50 percent. Inter-City Supply provided excellent service and competitive pricing, so it was the logical first choice for a soap vendor. UChicago Medicine believed, with improvements to its supply chain, Inter-City Supply could be an even stronger partner.
Michael Carey, Director of Purchasing for UChicago Medicine, said he referred Jackie Dyess, owner of Inter-City Supply, to participate in a business development program sponsored by CASE -- Chicago Anchors for a Strong Economy -- because he wanted to see the company grow as a supplier. “As a small distributor, they weren’t purchasing enough product to buy directly from the manufacturer and had to go through a larger distributor,” Carey said. “With their increased business with the City of Chicago and our new $100,000 contract, they can cut out the middle man and lower costs for their customers.”
Dyess started Inter-City Supply Co., in 1978. The company’s South Side warehouse is stocked with a wide selection of janitorial, packaging, food service, and other supplies. Inter City Supply has 12 employees who all live in the area and contracts with approximately 400 companies, including UChicago Medicine. The University referred Dyess to CASE this spring, to participate in the pilot consulting and technical assistance workshop.
“CASE was a dynamic and exciting opportunity,” said Dyess, who has attended several professional development programs. “I liked that it was local and that I had the opportunity to be in the same room with other entrepreneurs.”
The University is a founding member of CASE, which connects anchors in need of qualified local suppliers with growing businesses in need of sales and contract opportunities. World Business Chicago launched CASE in March 2014, on the same day the University introduced UChicago Local’s Buy Local initiative. Since then, CASE has contracted with Next Street, a merchant bank that specializes in connecting small companies to large institutions, to offer three-day workshops to more than 100 businesses looking to increase their competitiveness.
By Kim Grimshaw Bolton
Photo by Robert Kozloff
