San Francisco Chamber Foundation Collaborates to Promote Yes San Francisco, Urban Sustainability Challenge

Urban Sustainability Challenge

Deloitte, Salesforce, and World Economic Forum recently announced the launch of the Yes San Francisco (Yes SF), Urban Sustainability Challenge, the first location-based UpLink Challenge. The challenge was created in response to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 aimed at making communities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.  Entrepreneurs and organizations were encouraged to submit sustainable solutions for their city’s needs for an opportunity to receive funding through the Challenge. Collaborators in this effort include Citi and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation. While Citi will use their Citi Impact Fund to help engage investors, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation will bring local stakeholders to advocate for the Challenge. San Francisco Chamber of Commerce CEO & President, Rodney Fong, said, “San Francisco has a generational opportunity to build on its core strengths as a global center of commerce, with a talented, educated workforce and a long history of leadership in technology and innovation, to refocus its energy on leading the fight against climate change.” In total, the San Francisco Chamber Foundation received 143 submissions by the August 11, 2023 deadline. The proposals were required to have a positive impact on the community through the lens of sustainability, and work to transform downtown San Francisco and revitalize spaces across the city. Innovations, which can be found here, included: Redesigned indoor and outdoor spaces that bring residents, visitors, and new businesses to the area while utilizing sustainable materials that minimize the city’s carbon footprint. Converting downtown office buildings into residential housing Innovative clean energy and storage solutions for the urban area Reimagined ideas for urban food production to provide healthy, reliable nutrition to the community. Innovative approaches to water conservation and reuse that stimulate equitable job creation. The Yes SF, Urban Sustainability Challenge will bring together a community of organizations, entrepreneurs and leaders to help create a more sustainable and inclusive San Francisco as the city works to become a model for resiliency.

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Ryan Evans.

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More than 300 business leaders attend inaugural Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Sustainability Summit

On January 24th more than 300 businesses attended the sold-out inaugural Greater Cleveland Partnership Sustainability Summit at the Huntington Convention Center. This article was published by the Greater Cleveland Partnership and written by Laura DeMarco on January 24, 2023.

Sustainability. It’s not just a buzzword. But what, exactly, is it, and why should businesses care?

More than 300 business leaders and stakeholders gathered at the inaugural Greater Cleveland Partnership Sustainability Summit at the Huntington Convention Center on Tuesday to discuss the importance of being All In on sustainability for business growth and regional impact — and steps and resources to get there.

“Yesterday and today, Greater Cleveland, with its abundant natural resources, strong business base and visionary leaders can — and will — be a site for sustainable transformation and growth,” said Greater Cleveland Partnership President and CEO Baiju Shah to open the event. “As home to 20% of the world’s fresh water in our Great Lakes region, it is imperative that sustainability become a part of all that we do. Our region has extraordinary potential, which we can realize by working together.”

The keynote speech, “Sustainability Trends, Challenges and Opportunities,” was delivered by Chris Laszlo, professor of organizational behavior at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.

“The way we need to think about sustainability and ESG is in terms of value creation,” said Laszlo. “It drives business innovation and needs to be integrated into core business strategies and operations.”

“Are you inspiring people? Are you influencing industry standards?” he challenged the audience.

The summit brought together sustainability leaders from large companies and small and mid-size enterprises, experts and thought leaders for educational discussions. It consisted of panels and breakout tracks for both large companies and SMEs.

Topics ranged from “Meeting Stakeholder Expectations and Targets,” to “What Your Customers Need You to Know,” “Sustainability 101” and “Innovation and Sustainability for Large Companies.”

Chris Laszlo, professor of organizational behavior at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, delivered the Summit keynote.

Attendee Taylor Evans, CEO of Workforce LLC, praised the Summit for “putting sustainability at the forefront of conversation,” noting its increasing importance in attracting workforce talent.

“The impact of sustainability on employee morale and retention is both remarkable and undeniable. By creating a workplace that is both purpose driven and mindful of its environmental impact, you are leaning into a long term strategy that will undoubtedly have a positive long term impact on the bottom line.

“Companies that adopt and implement a triple bottom line business model, which can be challenging for a company to do in totality, will ultimately mean that they are All In for all of their constituents (shareholders, employees and the Earth) in the long run.”

Panelists included representatives of many of the region’s largest corporations. The “Company Benefits of Sustainable Practices” panel, moderated by Elad Granot, PH.D., Dean of the Boler College of Business at John Carroll University, featured leaders from Lubrizol, Cleveland Cliffs, Blue CSR Strategies and the City of Cleveland.

Elizabeth Grove, Chief Sustainability Officer at Lubrizol, spoke to the importance of companies integrating sustainability into both their carbon footprint and “handprint.”

“At Lubrizol, we are reducing our carbon footprint, and also leveraging sustainability in our handprint, in the products we make,” she said, noting they expect the same from their suppliers. “The benefit is … co-operation in the supply chain.”

Patrick Bloom, Vice President, Government Relation at Cleveland Cliffs, spoke to the potential of sustainability to turn back the “tide of globalization,” citing the EV supply chain as beneficial for American businesses.

Shah emphasized the Summit is just the beginning of an essential new market movement, one which requires the community to work together.

“Building a Great GREEN Region on a Great Lake will take all of us, working All In,” he said. “Sustainability is essential for dynamic business growth, as experts will share today. Businesses are rapidly learning that sustainability is not optional. It’s the way of the future. Large, mid-size and small companies that embrace sustainability will have a competitive advantage. Leveraging technology and innovation leads to growth throughout the supply chain. We want all businesses to leave today’s Summit inspired to grow — and informed about resources that can help them do so.”

St. Petersburg Recognizes Connection Between Sustainability and Business Success as Winter Park Chamber Offers Keynote Address

On October 25, the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and the Florida Environmental Defense Fund co-hosted the first Sustainability Leadership Forum and Awards Ceremony.   As one of the most vulnerable cities in America to climate change, St. Petersburg’s business leaders were looking for a way to recognize those organizations in the city leading on sustainability.   At the event, the organizations recognized three companies and heard from Betsy Gardner Eckbert, president/CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.   “The companies we recognized today are leading our community’s efforts in sustainability and ensuring the future of our city is as great as our present,” says Jason Mathis, CEO, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. “Having Betsy set the stage, with her community’s connection between sustainability and prosperity was a great lesson for us all to hear.”   The Winter Park Chamber, located outside of Orlando, was recently featured in a “Chambers in Action” story because of its focus on sustainability in its Prosperity Scorecard.   During her keynote address, Gardner Eckbert discussed tri-sector leadership and how Winter Park engaged businesses, local government, and nonprofits in her community to tackle the issue of sustainability and climate change.   “Tri-sector leadership is required for change because change is tough,” Gardner Eckbert says. “You have to engage all of the stakeholders and embed change for it to last. This kind of change must be normalized and embedded and picked up by all the sectors.”   After Gardner Eckbert’s talk, the group recognized three local businesses for Sustainability Leadership, showcasing the positive work being done by community and business leaders throughout Pinellas County.    Businesses of all sizes were eligible and the selection process focused on innovation related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, structural preservation, water conservation, water quality, electric vehicles and more.   “From the level of companies we recognized to the fabulous advice given by Betsy, we are extremely pleased with the results of this inaugural event,” says Dawn Shirreffs, Florida director, Environmental Defense Fund. “These leaders understand that sustainability growth makes economic sense and we hope others will be inspired by their stories to embrace these forward thinking and lucrative practices.”

Award Winners:

Institutional Award Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, operating the region’s transit system with a focus on converting to electric buses. In March 2021, the organization released its first Sustainability Strategic Plan.

Retail Award Brick Street Farms, an urban farming company that has developed containers producing 16 acres to 20 acres of crops on 1/3 of an acre of land.

Developer Award Stoneweg U.S., a multifamily real estate investment company with a goal of reducing its portfolio’s site Energy Use Intensity by 15% by 2025.

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Alan Byrd.   Also, if you would like to donate time or money in support of FL’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, you can do so via this link at the Florida State Chamber of Commerce website.

Winter Park Chamber leads community sustainability with innovative prosperity scorecard

Winter Park is one of Central Florida’s more desirable communities. It’s home to a top private college with an established shopping and dining area downtown. Its business community is engaged, led by multigenerational family residents, but filled with fresh voices and faces. The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce has been a staple of the community since 1923, sharing its offices with the city’s Welcome Center in the heart of the community. When COVID-19 hit, the Winter Park Chamber, like so many others, mobilized to work on a multitude of issues outside of the typical purview of a chamber, even creating an Economic Recovery Task Force. “We became aware of needs that we didn’t traditionally look at, like poverty and food insecurity,” says the chamber’s president/CEO, Betsy Gardner Eckbert, IOM. “Afterward, we thought we needed to create a tool measuring total prosperity where everyone could plug in and see the factors that create prosperity.” The Winter Park Prosperity Scorecard launched earlier this year. While it has the traditional aspects of prosperity models – employment, industry types, housing costs, social services – it also includes measures on sustainability and clean energy, specifically: Public electric vehicle charging units (38 units) Percentage of city fleet that is electric (six percent) Breakdown of renewable/clean energy mix under city utility portfolio (20 percent) Number of annual solar permits (residential and commercial) in the city (45 permits)

“We like going to places that align with our community,” Gardner Eckbert says. “We’re focused on incentivizing the private sector by showcasing our successes and leading in this space.” The chamber and its leadership know sustainability efforts can be improved. The community of 25,000 residents count its embrace of solar electricity for homes and businesses as a success. But the city-owned electric utility only purchased renewable energy for 20 percent of its wholesale power. “If you’re going to be sustainable, you want to use renewable energy for your electric vehicles,” she says. “We’d like to see strategic planning on how to grow that mix of wholesale power – we think that percentage should be much higher.” Gardner Eckbert believes leading on the issue of sustainability should be part of any chamber’s plan. With a background in corporate governance for multinational businesses, she has personally seen how companies that embrace sustainability usually have better financial results.

If you would like to learn more about clean energy opportunities in your community, please contact Alan Byrd.

Chamber Leads Out with Sustainability Pledge and Proves an Example for Other Chambers to Follow

Tempe Chamber- First Chamber in the U.S. to Create a Sustainability Pledge Program

When talking with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, you can feel the enthusiasm and vibrancy of a community focused on innovation, investment and sustainable urban living. Located in a city that is home to nine innovation hubs, the Tempe Chamber is an active partner with the City of Tempe and Arizona State University in nurturing the collaborative spirit that powers Tempe. The chamber is an innovative leader in its own right. The chamber created and manages a very unique Sustainability Pledge Program and Information Hub for the business community. It’s more than just signing a pledge, the program helps member companies activate the pledge. The program includes actions, advice, convenings and resources aimed at energy efficiency, cleaner transportation, water efficiency, waste reduction, and a guide on purchasing. “Sustainability is a priority for Tempe’s business community” explained Anne Gill, CEO and President of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. We provide our businesses the tools they need to manage resources and in many cases, save money.”

In addition to the Sustainability Pledge Program, the chamber created a Sustainability Committee and hosts an Annual Sustainability Summit that brings together businesses, city officials, non-profits, and academics to share success stories and best practices that are helping to create a more sustainable and resilient Tempe. Additionally, as an active member of the City of Tempe’s Sustainability Commission, the chamber also works on Tempe's Climate Action Plan which addresses emissions reduction in energy, transportation, and resilience to extreme heat.  “Any successful sustainability program needs to make sure it looks closely at energy. Energy efficiency is a key way we can participate in climate action and make sure we help businesses save money by being more energy efficient.” Sukki Janke CMP, VP Marketing and Programs, Tempe Chamber of Commerce “The Tempe Chamber is a great partner for the City of Tempe. They are showing real leadership in the Tempe community while helping to educate businesses about the economic benefits associated with sustainability, clean energy and climate action. They are also making sure more businesses get a seat at the table.” Dr. Braden Kay, City of Tempe, Director of Sustainability “The Sustainability Pledge is a beneficial program that chambers around the country could replicate to help their member businesses save money while becoming more sustainable.” Ryan Evans, Executive Director, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy Stay tuned for more thought leadership from the Tempe Chamber as it continues to provide timely programs that benefit the entire community.

Pictured above: Anne Gill, CEO and President of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce

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Chattanooga area chamber “raises the bar” with business sustainability partnership

Chattanooga Area Chamber Partners with

Local Company to Deliver Sustainable Business Practices

Tennessee River running through Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce was pleased to join its member, EPB, recently to announce that it has become the first local company to earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Gold level for an existing building. The company celebrated the announcement by hosting the EPB Green Business Expo to share expertise and resources with other local companies interested enhancing their sustainability and optimizing their operations.

Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce

Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce values the expertise that EPB brings to business sustainability. “The Chattanooga Chamber is proud to partner with EPB to engage local companies as we continue to raise the bar on our commitment to sustainability,” Gillenwater shared in a recent interview.

“It’s something more companies care about,” Gillenwater added. “And the Chattanooga business community has a long track record of working alongside community leaders and residents to help recover and preserve our community’s rich and beautiful natural environment.”

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s legislative priorities include supporting energy efficiency and conservation initiatives to help to preserve the community’s natural beauty while simultaneously avoiding a negative economic impact to the business community.

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA) shares the city's vision for sustainability

Read these articles for more about the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s business sustainability and clean energy leadership:

Taking a New Look at Sustainability in the South

Business Trend: Chattanooga goes solar

If you would like more information about the economic benefits of energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives, please contact susan@chambersforinnovation.com. 

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Blackstone Valley Chamber Tackles Workforce Skills Gap and Sustainability with Innovative Educational Programming

Located in the historic Linwood Mill, which is geothermal, the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce (BVCC) is definitely walking the walk when it comes to innovation and clean energy.

BVCC was just selected as one of 5 local and state chambers across the country to receive an Economic Development grant from the US Chamber of Commerce. The grant allows the Chamber to implement a work-based learning program to help the local community address the talent gap. BVCC is now creating a Career Readiness Lab in the Chamber's new BV Ed Hub located in the mill which includes renewable energy tech training and a state of the art makers space. The innovative program is set to serve 10 local high school districts with employer led training designed to help fill the skills gap/ needs of the local workforce.

"We are really excited to be the home of the Career Readiness Lab," said President and CEO of the BVCC Jeannie Hebert. "We are so glad to be able to help the students in our communities be prepared for the working world. It is a wonderful opportunity for the Blackstone Valley to develop workforce training programs alongside our manufactures."

Jeannie Hebert, President and CEO of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce

During a recent meeting with Energy and Environment Secretary Matt Beaton, Jeannie Herbert asked how the Baker Administration was thinking about workforce readiness for the Bay State. Secretary Beaton said,  "the state had educational programs and public-private partnerships on workforce readiness." He said, "that a partnership with chambers would be welcome."  

Jeannie Hebert also stated that local chambers throughout the country are uniquely positioned to help fill the clean energy talent gap and economic development needs of their communities. "We all want our communities to be engaged in the clean economy future. To make this happen, we must make address workforce readiness. I'm happy to share how we do this in our community with all local chambers and economic development professionals."

To learn more about this initiative read here

Local Chamber Praises Wind Energy as Key to Economic Development

At a recent roundtable hosted by Chambers for Innovation and Conservatives for Clean Energy, Lt. Gen. John Castellaw, Rep. John Szoka (R-45) and Holly Grange (R-20) addressed the question: Are the growing economic developments of wind energy compatible with military operations in North Carolina?

Rep. Bob Steinberg and Lt. Gen. Castellaw

The answer: A resounding yes.

"The bottom line is the military already has an effective, non-political, non-emotional, just-the-facts, well-established process for making sure that wind and other energy projects are compatible with operations and promote our national security. Imposing blanket restrictions on wind development in the name of national security can make us more insecure."

-- Lt. Gen. Castellaw, served 36 years in the Marine Corps including nearly 10 years flying over eastern North Carolina.

Rep. John Szoka

 “We need safe military operations, new energy resources for ratepayers and the benefits of increasing the property tax base for rural counties. I am personally satisfied that wind operations effects are negligible on military training. Recent congressional action that further clarifies the Department of Defense Clearing House procedures, including mandatory involvement of local bases, should remove any remaining doubt to those who may be skeptical of wind.”

-- Rep. John Szoka (R-Cumberland), is a retired Army Colonel who represents Ft. Bragg in the General Assembly.

“The Edenton-Chowan Chamber is grateful to Lt. Gen. Castellaw and Reps. Szoka and Grange for taking the time to ensure that other members of the legislature have factual knowledge about wind energy’s present and future impact on military operations in our state. We applaud these efforts to educate their peers on how critical the Northeastern North Carolina wind projects and resulting economic benefits are to the growth, prosperity and sustainability for a region like ours.”

-- Win Dale, Executive Director of the Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce, said after the event.