G2.2 Sustainable businesses
Develop a green guide for area business leaders.
The County Chamber of Commerce administers the Thurston Green Business Program, which publishes a directory of businesses in the program and recognizes them at an annual forum.
Portland maintains a website called “Sustainability at Work”. This City program will match businesses and nonprofits with a sustainability advisor to consult with businesses and nonprofits, and offer them access to “a variety of free services to conserve resources, improve efficiency, save money and provide a healthy and quality workspace.” It offers three levels of sustainability certification for local businesses based on detailed lists of criteria and a handbook for workplace green teams, publishes a newsletter for businesses, and maintains a library of small business sustainability plans that are available on request.
Sustain Dane, in Madison WI, is a county organization that runs a variety of programs to support local business sustainability, including professional development workshops, a Sustainable Breakfast series, networking meetings for local green teams and sustainability committees, an annual conference and awards program, a way for people to share sustainability stories, and various networking and social events.
The EPA’s brochure, “Smart Steps to Sustainability 2.0”, lists a wide variety of resources for small businesses.