California Green Business Network

DESCRIPTION:THIS AWARD'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT POLLUTION PREVENTION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE MONTEREY BAY AREA AND CENTRAL VALLEY REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA. THE RECIPIENT, CALIFORNIA GREEN BUSINESS NETWORK, WILL PROVIDE BILINGUAL 1:1 ONSITE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO RESTAURANTS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES TO TRANSITION TO REUSABLE FOODWARE AND SAFER JANITORIAL PRODUCTS. THE PURPOSE IS TO REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION AND TOXIC CHEMICAL POLLUTION AT THE SOURCE BY TRANSITIONING BUSINESSES TO MORE SUSTAINABLE AND SAFER PRACTICES AND HELPING THEM GET CERTIFIED AS GREEN BUSINESSES. THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROVIDES PARTIAL FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $95,000.00.ACTIVITIES:CALIFORNIA GREEN BUSINESS NETWORK (CAGBN) WILL HELP RESTAURANTS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES REPLACE SINGLE-USE FOODWARE AND TOXIC CLEANERS WITH REUSABLE FOODWARE AND EPA SAFER CHOICE CLEANING PRODUCTS IN THE MONTEREY BAY AREA AND CENTRAL VALLEY REGIONS OF CA, FOCUSING ON HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT GOALS ARE TO REACH AT LEAST 800 BUSINESSES THROUGH AWARENESS MARKETING, ENGAGE 200 DIRECTLY THROUGH EVENTS, PHONE CALLS, AND EMAILS; AND PROVIDE 1:1 ASSISTANCE TO 100 BUSINESSES, WITH AT LEAST 50 MAKING THE SWITCH TO REUSABLE FOODWARE AND/OR SAFER CHOICE PRODUCTS. FROM THESE, IT IS EXPECTED THAT UP TO 20 OF THESE BUSINESSES WILL GO ON TO GET GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATIONS. CAGBN WILL DEVELOP 3 CASE STUDIES ON KEY BUSINESSES AND ONE CASE STUDY ON A CHILDCARE FACILITY. MONTEREY BAY AREA COMMUNITIES TO BE TARGETED ARE SALINAS AND WATSONVILLE. IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY, CAGBN WILL CONVERT 20 BUSINESSES TO REUSABLE FOODWARE AND/OR SAFER JANITORIAL PRODUCTS AND RECOGNIZE AT LEAST 5 BUSINESSES. CAGBN WILL HIGHLIGHT THEIR WORK AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND CREATE A VIDEO TUTORIAL. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:IN MONTEREY BAY AREA, CAGBN EXPECTS TO HAVE AT LEAST 50 BUSINESSES MAKE THE SWITCH TO REUSABLE FOODWARE AND/OR SAFER CLEANING PRODUCTS, WITH 20 OF THEM GETTING ENTRY LEVEL GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATIONS. CAGBN WILL DELIVER 3 CASE STUDIES TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR PROJECT RESULTS IN THIS REGION. IN CENTRAL VALLEY, CAGBN EXPECTS 20 BUSINESSES TO CONVERT TO REUSABLE FOODWARE AND/OR SAFER PRODUCTS, WITH 5 OF THEM GETTING RECOGNIZED. CAGBN WILL DELIVER AT LEAST 1 CASE STUDY FOR THIS WORK. CAGBN WILL DEVELOP STATEWIDE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, GREEN TIPS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOME METRICS FOR FOODWARE AND SAFER CHEMICALS TO BE BUILT INTO THEIR GREENBIZTRACKER SOFTWARE. ESTIMATED SAVINGS FOR 20 CERTIFIED GREEN BUSINESS ARE 411 METRIC TONS CO2 EQUIV. GHG EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS, 136,358 LBS ANNUAL ESTIMATED SOLID WASTE AVOIDED, AND 12000 GALLONS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AVOIDED (PG 19 WORKPLAN. CALCULATIONS MADE WITH ASSUMPTIONS ON BUSINESS SIZE AND MATERIAL USAGE).