Company more than quadruples investment in local economy in last decade
DTE Energy today announced it invested $2.2 billion with Michigan businesses in 2020, creating and sustaining more than 10,400 jobs across the state and exceeding its annual commitment by $200 million.
DTE has invested $13.7 billion with Michigan-based vendors since 2010, creating and sustaining 44,000 Michigan jobs. The company invests nearly five times more with local businesses than it did a decade ago.
“Doing business in the communities we serve helps Michigan companies grow and puts more people to work in the process,” said DTE Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer Tony Tomczak. “We have an unwavering commitment to improve the state’s economy. This is even more important during the pandemic; it drove us to deepen our support in 2020.”
During the initial pandemic response period earlier this year, the company spent $16 million on personal protective equipment like masks, gloves and hand sanitizer. The vast majority of those funds – 92 percent – went to local businesses.
Below are highlights of DTE’s partnership with Michigan-based businesses:
- Southeast Michigan and Metro Detroit: DTE bought $1.7 billion in goods and services from 1,152 companies, generating and supporting 7,770 jobs. More than half – $969 million – was sourced from companies based in Detroit.
- West Michigan: DTE spent $75 million with 190 companies, creating and sustaining nearly 350 jobs.
- Northeast and Northwest Michigan: DTE invested $67 million with nearly 150 companies, positively impacting 300 jobs.
- South Michigan: DTE partnered with more than 350 companies, spending $274 million and adding or maintaining 1,260 jobs.
- Central Michigan: DTE invested $46 million with 95 companies, creating and sustaining 210 jobs.
- Thumb Region: DTE spent $100 million with nearly 140 companies, positively impacting about 465 jobs.
- Upper Peninsula: DTE partnered with 40 businesses, spending nearly $10 million and generating and supporting nearly 50 jobs.
DTE is a founding member of Pure Michigan Business Connect, a public-private initiative that encourages businesses to buy from Michigan vendors and connects local companies with in-state opportunities. DTE requires that all new contract bids include at least two Michigan companies.
For Reed City-based Hydaker-Wheatlake, a history of delivering safe, high quality cost competitive services has translated into a growing partnership with DTE. After several years of working on DTE’s electrical system, the utility services firm won a three-year contract to maintain and upgrade the natural gas system in Grand Rapids and northern Michigan.
“We work well with DTE because we have similar values, focused on safety and customer service,” said Hydaker-Wheatlake president Todd Blosser. “We’re proud to help provide reliable natural gas for the people of Michigan. The increased business has allowed us to bring on additional workers and hire more local skilled labor for projects.”
DTE also is cultivating a growing list of suppliers owned by women, minorities, veterans and members of the LGBT community.
The company has earned more than 30 supplier diversity industry awards since 2018. This year, DTE spent $744 million with diverse suppliers and increased its annual spending goal with diverse businesses. New targets include a $500 million to $1 billion increase in diverse spending – and an aspirational goal of $1 billion in annual spending with diverse businesses by 2026.
“We believe we’re at our best when our suppliers reflect the diversity of our customer base,” said Tomczak. “That’s why we seek out small and medium businesses and connect them with new growth opportunities. We’ve replicated this success over and over again to generate thousands of jobs across our state.”
Michigan companies interested in learning about bid opportunities at DTE can find more information here.