Welcome to the Illinois Green Business Association!

Currently, we are in the pilot phase of our green business certification program with 13 community businesses and are looking to launch the full program in the spring.

If you are interested in learning more about our pilot phase or want your business to be certified under our program, please visit our  Contact Us page, and we will answer your question or place you on our wait list!

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We have been accepted as a community partner for a Learning in Community course at the University of Illinois in Spring 2010. Here is a listing of project ideas from the site. If you are interested in working on one of these projects, contact us! If you are a student looking to get course credit for working with us, sign up for the course under ENGL 298!

We are on Twitter! Follow us and see what we’re up to, or reach us through the Contact Us page.

Finally, take a look at what some residents and community leaders think sustainability means in Champaign County:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBM1NMNw6ZY

Many businesses are curious about how to improve their operations to become more sustainable.  However, businesses do not have readily available resources to convert to greener practices or a local program that recognizes green businesses.

The C-U Green Business Association is bringing a certification program to Champaign-Urbana to help create a sustainable business community.

What is a Green Business?
A green business is an environmental leader within the community that encourages environmentally efficient operations and sustainability within the workplace. They not only benefit economically from improving efficiency, but will have a marketing edge over other businesses.

The C-U Green Business Association’s certification program will promote, recognize, and provide hands-on support to local businesses that operate in an environmentally responsible manner. Green business certification is well worth its time-intensive process and is a great opportunity for businesses to examine their own operations and implement more efficient practices.

Our mission is to assist businesses in reducing their ecological foot-print by attaining our green certification. We will asses a business’ current environmental performance and guide them towards certification. We will utilize applicable grants and incentive packages to aid businesses in the certification process. We will promote and market these successful efforts to the community to build a culture of sustainability and responsible consumerism.

Our vision is to create a model business assistance program that provides quality support and recognizes businesses that go beyond environmental compliance by preventing pollution at its source, closing waste loops and maximizing conservation opportunities. We envision all businesses enhancing the local communities and the larger environment.

We are excited to have launched our program and are currently at work in the certification process. The following are the businesses in Champaign, Urbana and Savoy participating in our green business pilot program:

• Art Mart
• B. Lime
• Body N’ Sole
• Boltini
• Brown, Hobbes, and McMurray Insurance
• Busey
• Cakes on Walnut
• Common Ground Food Co-Op
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Headquarters
• Ippatsu Salon
• Krannert’s Intermezzo Cafe and Gift Shop
• Mike and Marcy MacAnally State Farm Insurance
• That’s Rentertainment

Check back to find out when our first pilot business becomes certified!