Good Economy Challenge: SBN’s Campaign for Change

Exciting times, friends: it’s an election year!

The Sustainable Business Network has big goals for our next Mayor & City Council Members. Their campaign, the Good Economy Challenge, is trying to persuade candidates to embrace a more sustainably-focused, local economy.

So what’s the SBN’s grand plan? (Hint: it’s a good one.)

Sustainable Business Network’s Good Economy Challenge Issues

The stats are in: According to SBN’s Full Policy Paper,

Philadelphia’s small businesses form the backbone of our local economy. 98% of Philadelphia businesses are small businesses (defined as fewer than 50 employees), and 54% of jobs are created by small businesses.

1. Small Business:

• Improve the climate for small business in Philadelphia.
• Improve city service portals simplify the tax process, eliminate unnecessary law and provisions and connect the small business support system.

2. Procure Local:

• Prioritize local and sustainable business procurement by city government, universities, & other institutions.
• Make procurement easier, greener, and local!

3. Green City, Clean Waters:

• Improve our water ways, green our city, and further the green stormwater infrastructure industry by advancing the City’s Green City, Clean Waters plan.

 

4. Solar Homes:

• Move Philadelphia to 20,000 Solar Homes by 2025. Make property tax abatement policies sustainable, educate consumers on solar, and incentivize solar jobs for youth.

5. Social Enterprise:

• Strengthen the partnership between the City and Certified B-Corps.
• Double the Sustainable Business Tax Credit and apply it to profits.
• Expand the “Jump Start” program for Certified B-Corps.

Sounds groovy, right?!? And you’re so pumped that you want to get involved. Good news – you can do so from the comfort of your laptop or smartphone, in person and email.

Here’s how:

Good Economy Challenge: Twitter Chat

We’re co-hosting a Twitter Chat with Sustainable Business Network, Forsei Consulting & Generocity on Wednesday, April 8th at noon. We’ll ask the candidates to answer the tough questions about the 5 issues above – in 140 characters or less. 😉

Follow along with the hashtag #GoodEconomyPhilly.

The Good Economy Candidate Forum

Get off your smartphone) and join the candidates talk about the Good Economy Candidate Forum on April 25th!

• What: Hear TedX Philadelphia Speaker Chris Rabb ask Philadelphia Mayoral candidates about small business, city government, Green Cities Clean Waters, Solar, B-Corps & more.
• When: Saturday, April 25, 2015, 6:30 – 9:00 PM
• Where: Temple University Fox School of Business, Alter Hall Auditorium, 1801 Liacouras Walk, Philadelphia PA 19122
• Cost: FREE! (But you should donate to SBN too.)
• Register: Via Ticketleap here.

We’ll be live tweeting the event (as will Generocity) so you can catch the important parts, too.

C’mon friends: Let’s make sustainable, small businesses a win for Philly.

Readers, are you going to the Good Economy Challenge? Share this post on your favorite Social Network to help get your friends involved, too!