2021 PGA Championship seeks diverse local companies to be vendors

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Locally owned and minority-owned companies can apply to provide services at the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort through the PGA VendorMatch program.

The program will give locally owned businesses, including minority-, women-, LGBT-, veteran- or disabled-owned vendors, the opportunity to potentially interview with larger, direct vendors — known as prime or Tier 1 vendors — for work during the PGA Championship, to be held May 17-23. Companies can register online through July 31.

A variety of services are needed, such as food products, temporary housing, florals and labor. A full list of needs is on the website.

“We’re excited to provide a unique opportunity to connect qualified local and diverse-owned vendors with our prime vendors, to deliver value and innovation to our championship supply chain, and positively impact the economy within the state of South Carolina,” PGA of America Chief People Officer Sandy Cross said in a news release.

According to the release, golf is an $84 billion industry, and major events like the PGA Championship generate substantial entertainment and tourism dollars for host cities and surrounding areas.

“It’s important to the PGA to bring value to our host cities,” PGA of America Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh said. “This opportunity increases our ability to deliver economic impact and an outstanding experience through our championship operations.”