Two Progress Energy employees also will be recognized. Lead Coordinator Hudson Oliveira is Coordinator of the Year and Senior Procurement Specialist Sandra Lester is Buyer of the Year. Progress Energy is receiving three out of the four awards being presented to major corporations in the West Florida region. This is the first year that Progress Energy has won the Coordinator of the Year and the Buyer of the Year awards.

The FMSDC is an affiliate member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, a national organization with more than 3,500 major corporations and 15,000 certified Minority Business Enterprise suppliers. The awards recognize major corporations that have demonstrated commitment, performance and dedication to minority-owned and operated suppliers.

Progress Energy was chosen for its distinctive Supplier Diversity program that develops and increases the utilization of certified minority-owned businesses through the purchasing of products and services. The three awards are a testament to the program's success: nominations come from MBE suppliers, and the FMSDC takes into account the annual growth of a company's procurement with MBE suppliers when awarding Corporation of the Year. Progress Energy purchases products and services from 208 MBE suppliers.

"The diversity and vitality of the communities we serve is essential to the long-term strength and growth of our business," said Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. "Recognizing and fostering diversity is an inherent part of our company's culture. We're very proud to play a role in providing opportunities for minority- and woman-owned businesses to compete on an equal basis."

Progress Energy's process for enhancing the program includes identifying, evaluating and encouraging participation by certified minority- and woman-owned businesses in the bidding process, and supporting diversity efforts through outreach activities.

Progress Energy defines a minority-owned business enterprise as one that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minority individuals who control the daily management. "Minority persons" include African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans (Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts and Hawaiians) and/or Asians (Pacific Islanders and Indians). The company's definition of a woman-owned business enterprise is a business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women who control the daily management.

To learn more about the FMSDC, visit www.nmsdcfl.com or call President Malik Ali at (407) 245-6062. To learn more about Progress Energy's Supplier Diversity program, visit the company Web site at www.progress-energy.com/aboutus/diversity/ or contact Hudson Oliveira at (727) 820-5424.

About FMSDC

The Florida Minority Supplier Development Council is an affiliate member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, a national organization with a membership of more than 3,500 major corporations and 15,000 certified suppliers. The purpose of the FMSDC is to provide major corporations and government agencies with easy access to minority-owned and -operated businesses. The FMSDC provides Minority Business Enterprise certification, networking, contract funding, trade fairs, Web access to MBE and corporate member directories, buyer training, sales training and more.

About Progress Energy Florida

Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million customers in Florida. The company, with headquarters in St. Petersburg, Fla., serves a territory encompassing more than 20,000 square miles, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida region surrounding Orlando. Progress Energy is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. In 2005, the company also received the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for dedication, commitment and sustained improvement in customer service. Progress Energy, with headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at www.progress-energy.com.

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Media contact: Progress Energy Florida24-hour media line (866) 520-6397