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Missouri, Google Team Up to Develop “Best Practice” PPE Marketplace

  • May 01, 2020

Missouri recently launched a new tool developed in partnership with Google to help health care providers connect with Missouri manufacturers and suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE). Expanding reserves of PPE by opening public and private supply chains is one of the four essential pillars of the “Show Me Strong Recovery” plan introduced by Governor Mike Parson this week.

“It’s vital that we keep our health care workers as protected as possible in the fight against COVID-19,” said Governor Parson. “Manufacturers across the state have answered the call to help protect our health care workers, and we are committed to doing all we can to get this equipment into the hands of those that need it.”

The new tool is a joint effort between the state and the Missouri Hospital Association. It was created to help manufacturers that have shifted production to PPE enter the health care market and connect with buyers.

Vice President Mike Pence highlighted Missouri’s marketplace during a White House press briefing.

“[Missouri has] worked with Google Marketplace to create an online portal of more than 200 companies in Missouri who have repurposed their manufacturing lines to create medical supplies to meet their need within the state,” said Vice President Pence.

Over the past month, the Department of Economic Development (DED) has gathered interest from more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers of PPE and invited all of these companies to register in the system.

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