Valencia McClure, Pepco’s regional president, leads legislative initiatives and community engagement efforts for the company, which provides energy to the District of Columbia and Maryland.
We all have a role to play to ensure that diverse communities can thrive, and Pepco recognizes the impact we can make in the communities we serve. As the energy provider to 944,000 customers in D.C. and Maryland, we play a critical role for customers to keep the lights on. Access to reliable energy is at the core of what we do, and we are preparing for a stronger, cleaner energy future by investing in modernized infrastructure to ensure the grid can withstand what is next. Social equity is a cornerstone of this and of Pepco’s mission and values. As such, we are prioritizing vulnerable and under-resourced communities in the energy transformation by reducing barriers and making energy technologies that help combat climate change more accessible.
We are also investing in the communities we serve and recognize the importance of our role as a corporate citizen to the D.C. and Maryland area. Both Pepco and our parent company, Exelon, are walking the walk when it comes to supporting the communities we live and work in. In 2023, Exelon invested more than $18 million across 90 workforce development programs and delivered over 800 employee resource group initiatives. It also spent $2.2 billion with diverse suppliers and granted $6 million through their Community Impact Capital Fund (CICF), an initiative that helps businesses in our communities grow and prosper by expanding access to capital.
Pepco has followed suit, driving notable investments in our communities through our partnership with the Public Sector Solutions Group (PS2G), which received $600,000 in funding through the Exelon CICF in 2023. PS2G is a Black-owned company providing technology driven IT consulting services and innovative solutions to state and local government partners. The company also trains residents in the District and Maryland in cybersecurity and information technology through the Walter Reed IT Infrastructure Academy and in partnership with Exelon and Pepco.
Pepco was also a proud industry leader in spending on diverse suppliers in 2023. By the numbers, we purchased $387 million in goods and services from diversity-certified suppliers in 2023, accounting for 44 percent of our total purchases for the year. This expenditure, a $35 million increase from 2022, is the most spent with diverse suppliers in our nearly 130-year history. This investment reflects our ongoing efforts to support local and diverse communities. It also ensures that businesses are given the opportunity to flourish and become stronger for the future.
We also have the privilege of partnering with two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the District – Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Pepco and our sister company, Delmarva Power, have made commitments to our HBCU partners to provide $7.3 million in scholarships, research, faculty and teacher trainings, workforce development, and certification programs over the next three years. In fact, through our “Power Scholars” programs, ten students from both Howard and UDC are awarded need and merit-based scholarships each year. This program for rising sophomores interested in STEM-related majors are offered mentorship, summer internships, and preparation for potential entry-level positions within Pepco.
Through UDC’s Developing America’s Workforce Nucleus (DAWN) Initiative, they aim to create a talent pipeline to support local economic development. Identification, readiness, and development are core to rethinking and identifying new ways to leverage the talents of students of color and those in under-represented communities. We share this vision with the university and are proud to support long-lasting career opportunities and shape a future workforce that is reflective of the diverse communities we serve.
Pepco’s Edison Place Gallery is another way we are investing in our communities. The Gallery provides exposure and recognition opportunities for our nonprofit partners and the talented artists they represent. We are currently showcasing local artist, Aja Moon, and her body of work, entitled “The Aja Moon Collxn.” Moon came to our attention last fall when we sought the community’s input to identify a local artist to design a mural along a fence adjacent to our new Mount Vernon substation. The result is “Illuminated Legacy,” a 67-foot-long mural featuring 32 portraits of notable Washingtonians. The permanent public art installation will be unveiled this fall and “The Aja Moon Collxn” is on display through mid-September.
Each of these initiatives is part of Pepco’s broader efforts as an anchor institution and community partner in D.C. and Maryland. Through our efforts, we will continue to show the communities we serve that Pepco provides more than energy — we provide equitable access to opportunities and resources to amplify diverse voices and help the places we call home reflect, support, and illuminate the people who live there.