LIVONIA, Mich., July 16 -- Valassis, the leading marketing services company specializing in Invited Media, announced today their search for Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certified businesses to participate in the company's Supplier Diversity Program. Recommended by the Valassis Diversity Council, an employee-led group focused on promoting diversity in the workplace, the Valassis Supplier Diversity Program will serve as a way for the company to grow its spending with minority vendors, meet the needs of its customers and reinforce its commitment to diversity. "Valassis recognizes that supporting minority-owned businesses is a way to continue growing our business," said William H. Blackmer, Vice President of Strategic Sourcing for Valassis. "As we market to an increasingly diverse customer base, we have a growing need to strategically utilize MBEs for the procurement of goods, services and expertise." Qualifying companies must be MBE certified by an organization such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or its regional affiliates, the Small Business Administration and both state and municipal government agencies. Companies eligible for MBE certification must be located in the United States or its trust territories and be owned (51% minimum), operated and controlled by minority group members. Minority group members are defined as U.S. citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native American. Companies interested in applying for Valassis' Supplier Diversity Program should e-mail the company at [email protected] .