Sustainable Business Assistance Programs: Community-Based Assistance Programs

The Bay Area Green Business Program is a successful voluntary partnership of government agencies, professional associations, utilities, businesses and a concerned public. Participants work together to assist, recognize, and patronize businesses and government agencies that operate in an environmentally responsible way. The Program helps businesses and agencies comply with environmental regulations, and then go beyond compliance to conserve energy, water and other resources, and reduce pollution and waste.

The Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Program of the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development provides assistance to area businesses and recognition for their accomplishments in sustainable practices. Resource experts from the City of Portland's Energy, Water, and Environmental Services Bureaus help businesses learn the latest on pollution prevention, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water efficiency. The annual BEST Business Awards are presented to Portland businesses demonstrating innovative ways of conserving energy, minimizing waste, and improving transportation efficiency.

Portland's BEST program model is being explored and implemented in several other locations throughout the U.S., including Chula Vista, CA ; Austin, TX; Las Cruces, NM; Boulder, CO; and Olympia, WA. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada has also worked with the Portland Energy Office in developing a BEST program.

Marin Green Business Program is a voluntary partnership among business leaders, government agencies and nonprofit organizations in Marin County, California. It recognizes and promotes businesses that demonstrate environmental responsibility, such as resource efficiency and pollution prevention, and share their environmentally responsible practices with other businesses in the community.

Green Star, Inc. is a non-profit organization that encourages businesses, schools, and government agencies to incorporate techniques of waste reduction, energy conservation, and pollution prevention in their places of business. Enrolling businesses must strive to complete at least 12 of 18 standard sustainable practices. Currently there are 9 chapters of Green Star, Inc. in the following locations:

Anchorage, Alaska -- Anchorage Green Star
Kenai, Alaska -- Central Peninsula Green Star
Deadhorse, Alaska -- Alaska Support Industry Alliance
Fairbanks, Alaska -- Fairbanks Green Star
Nome, Alaska -- Nome Green Star
Kaua'i, Hawaii -- Green Star Kaua'i
Lewiston, Idaho -- Lewiston Green Star
Midland, Texas -- Keep Midland Beautiful, Inc.
Spokane, Washington -- Spokane County Green Star

Business and Industry Resource Venture is a partnership of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Seattle Public Utilities that provides free information, assistance and referrals to help Seattle businesses improve their environmental performance.

Green Works is a program in King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties, Washington, to provide free assistance to businesses in designing and implementing cost-effective waste reduction and recycling programs. Created by the King County Solid Waste Division and the Seattle Business and Industry Recycling Venture, Green Works relies upon a coalition of government agencies to effectively assist businesses with recycling, waste prevention and minimization, and recycled material products.

Last updated: January 18, 2005

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