Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2000

Contact: Frank Quimby 202/208-7291

MEDIA ADVISORY

Rep. Steny Hoyer to Help Launch Interior Partnership
with Blind Industries and Services of Maryland to Open "Green" Store

Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer will join John Berry, Interior Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, and Chairman Donald Morris, of the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, on August 2 to open a "green" office supply store in the Department's Washington, D.C., headquarters.

In partnership with the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, Interior is the first cabinet-level federal department to open an office supply store operated by people who are blind and disabled to market environmentally preferable SKILCRAFT® products. The store, located in the Main Interior Building at 18th and C Streets, N.W., will showcase and sell recycled- content supplies produced under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program, as well as GSA and commercially available office products.

The store will sell at competitive prices to Interior and other federal agencies, including the nearby General Services Administration and Office of Personnel Management. In addition to Metropolitan Washington agencies, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland will market its supplies to Interior and other federal offices across the nation via E-Commerce.

Interior's National Business Center handled the contract negotiations and oversaw the conversion of Interior facilities for the store. National Industries for the Blind, and its associated agencies' partnership with federal customers plays a crucial role in the nationwide initiative to "green" the government through waste prevention, recycling, and federal acquisition. The goal, which is mandated by executive order and other environmental laws, is to protect natural resources while recovering useable materials in an effort to curtail the flow of solid waste to landfills.

WHO: Rep. Steny Hoyer, Maryland, 5th District
John Berry, Interior Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget
Donald Morris, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland


WHAT: The opening of an environmentally friendly office supply store at the
U.S. Department of the Interior in conjunction with the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 2, 2000, at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Main Interior Building, Cafeteria,
1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

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