Hello!
I am working with the Foresight Design Initiative, an organization in the city of Chicago committed to creating a sustainable urban environment through intelligent design. I am looking for information that is somewhat a follow up on the recent request about fostering sustainable behavior in cities. Im currently compiling information about municipal efforts to foster sustainable business within cities. A couple of the responses to Johannas post were helpful, but Im looking for more specific city-sponsored policy instruments for the business community in particular. More specifically, I am looking for highly effective examples of the following:
* Use of financial incentives, such as expedited permits, tax credits, or feebates to encourage sustainable business
* Activities to attract new sustainable enterprises to the city
* Initiatives to create local markets for sustainable products
* Local regulations on the business community
* City-sponsored or facilitated certification and/or recognition programs for sustainable business
* Efforts to foster sustainability through facilitate of partnerships between business and the non-profit sector
* Other integrated efforts by cities
If you are familiar with an example in your city, or would suggest a resource to address these questions, I would love to hear from you!
Thanks in advance,
Laura Flanigan
Foresight Design Initiative
[email protected]
www.foresightdesign.org
Fostering Sustainable *Business* in Cities
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Consider the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan and the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. The Forum was founded in 1994 and has been very successful. They've partnered with a non-profit environmental group who are typically at odds. In recent years they've partnered with the City on housing issues. Most recently, the City has taken significant policy and action steps on sustainability.
For more info see Forum at: www.wmsbf.org
City Sustainability goals: http://www.ci.grand-rapids.mi.us/index.pl?binobjid=1446
Laura:
Many cities promote sustainable business but that's not what they call it. They call it pollution prevention or cleaner production. I have a page in my cleaner production directory on the topic http://cleanerproduction.com/Directory/sectors/urban2.htm
EPA Region 9 Environmental Finance Center has a web resource for Green Business Certification Programs Efc9.org, under Green Biz
Your major problem will be defining what is a sustainable business. I would avoid that term. Better to focus on business that is already there and help them be more sustainable.
Burton Hamner
President,
Cleaner Production International LLC
Producer,
http://www.CleanerProduction.Com
[email protected]
(206) 526-5308,
mobile (206) 491-0945
Hello-
You may want to check out EcoTrust in Portland, OR. This unique venture strives to do many things, one of which is to build and support local market demand for local products, such as the farm-to-school project. You may find more about what you are looking for on their website, www.ecotrust.org
Theresa Cross,
MS RD CD Health Educator
Tobacco Prevention and Education Program
Clark County Public Health
1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. Vancouver WA 98661
360/397-8000 ext. 7378
Laura,
It's not particularly to do with sustainable design, but in terms of fostering and providing support for a sustainable small businesses, I'm involved witht he Sustainable Enterprise Network, hosted by the Sustainable Living Foundation. The SEN has been around for a about a year (the Foundation much longer) and aims to build a community around sustainabitity focused small business. We have aover 100 members to date.
For more info please contact me.
Monique Bayer
You may want to check the Denver Sustainable City Initiative under www.greenprintdenver.org. The mayor just announced the launch of the program this morning, and it focuses on environment, economy and people. The initiatives include generating 'green collar' jobs through fostering renewable energy and green industries - related companies. Expanding sustainable development and green building through requiring US Green Building Council LEED Silver certification for all new buildings and renovations. Expediting permits and processing for 'green' construction projects. Assistance and incentives for small, minority and women owned businesses, with a Community Development Finance Corporation to fund start up businesses in underserved neighborhoods, etc. The website contains more details, and contact info. If you have trouble getting a response let me know and I'll contact some of the key staffers in the program
Rgds
Daniele Loffreda
Plateau Enviro, LLC
-Sustainable Environments-
2331 West Hampden Avenue, Unit 135
Sheridan, CO 80110
Tel: 917 334 7422
Fax: 303 484 3598
Those are exactly the type of initiatives being pursued in Zero Waste Community Plans. For examples, see the Palo Alto, CA adopted Zero Waste Strategic Plan at: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/zerowaste/graphics/Strategic_Plan_FInal_100405.pdf.
The City of Oakland is currently working on a similar Zero Waste Strategic Plan (see http://www.zerowasteoakland.com/Page749.aspx).
The Palo Alto Zero Waste Strategic Plan details a number of incentives and policies, and encourages its businesses to adopt Zero Waste as a goal. The Plan also references the Zero Waste Business Principles to be used as a guide for evaluating performance of businesses and recognizing those that are truly leaders (see: http://www.grrn.org/zerowaste/business/).
Finally, the CA Integrated Waste Management Board has case studies on "Incentives" and "Business Policies" that highlight different incentives and policies adopted throughout California that should provide great examples of leadership and innovation (see http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGLibrary/Innovations/Incentives/
Gary Liss
Are you familiar with the "Business Environmental Pledge Program" in Abbotsford, BC?
For info: http://www.bepp.org/