Boulder, CO assists local businesses with switch to reusable containers through incentive program
City officials and Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) are overseeing incentives for the replacement of single-use items. Successful applicants receive refunds of up to $2,000 or 70% of costs for eligible upgrades. The program reduces the costs of adding dishwashers, returnable takeout containers, and upgraded dishware. Boulder is collaborating with DeliverZero and r.Cup on supplying reusable items to participating eateries and entertainment venues.
Boulder, CO
United States
Auburn, ME improves resident access to healthy food with the Neighborhood Corner Store Program
Auburn budgeted $150,000 in federal ARPA funds to encourage corner store development by state-based grocers. Eligible applicants will locate their new or expanded stores more than one-quarter mile from national chains and make more than half of their sales from food purchases. The pilot provides up to $35,000 per store for up to four successful applicants. City officials will evaluate the program's impacts on food equity and local economic growth.
Auburn, ME
United States
Grand Rapids, MI prioritizes small businesses in procurement with its MLBE Certification
Locally owned businesses with revenues or employees up to 25% of the Small Business Administration's size standards qualify for the certification. Micro Local Business Enterprise (MLBE) recipients are considered priority vendors with the city. Successful applicants receive 3% bid discounts if providing goods or services and 5% bid discounts if providing construction services. The program also focused on MLBE businesses for medical marijuana and river restoration projects.
Grand Rapids, MI
United States
Bilbao, PV collaborates with Heineken on last-mile deliveries using all-electric vehicles
The pilot deploys Scoobic delivery vehicles for Heineken deliveries in the Casco Viejo neighborhood. Delivery trucks drop shipments at Ribera Market for last-mile delivery to 200 participating hotels. There is a charging hub at the market to keep the two-vehicle fleet powered for daily deliveries. Local officials anticipate an annual carbon emission reduction of 1,650 kilograms along with reduced traffic congestion in the historic neighborhood.
Bilbao, PV
Spain
Altena, NB promotes plant-based diet in community during pilot with local grocers and producers
This first-in-the-nation pilot seeks reduced animal protein consumption and a boost for domestic plant protein companies. Displays in select grocery stores highlight the health and environmental benefits of plant-based products. Point-of-sale data provide clear data on the impacts of display messages on consumers. Municipal and provincial officials also recruited program ambassadors for a multimedia campaign with recommended meals.
Altena, NB
Netherlands
Aarhus, DK pursues a citywide reusable takeaway container system for landfill waste reductions
Aarhus seeks project partners that can develop a unified takeaway container system for local business use. A group of 25 cafes and restaurants lobbied the city for a replacement for single-use cups. The three-year pilot will start with reusable coffee cups that can be returned to participating eateries for continued use. This system will expand into other takeout container types, thus reducing the large share of public bin waste composed of coffee cups.
Aarhus, DK
Denmark
Atlanta, GA ATLinBusiness Marketplace builds relationships between local suppliers and buyers
The digital marketplace focuses on B2B interactions among locally owned companies. Participating businesses create free accounts through the NowNetwork-powered platform in a few simple steps. Each company's profile includes products and services on offer along with diversity classifications and other operational details. An AI-enabled search tool connects buyers to suppliers based on profile matches. The ATLinBusiness Marketplace amplifies smaller vendors and boosts the local economy.
Atlanta, GA
United States
Haarlem, NH creates a welcoming environment for businesses with the Kennemer Impact Helpdesk
Haarlem worked with Stichting Stadsgarage on an online resource for sustainable business growth. Entrepreneurs find answers to frequently asked questions about impact purchasing, financing options, and municipal regulations. The Kennemer Impact Helpdesk includes online forms and phone contacts for business owners with more complex questions. Helpdesk users also find the Kennemer Inkoop Platform, which lists socially responsible vendors in categories like circular economy and poverty reduction.
Haarlem, NH
Netherlands
San Luis Obispo, CA Eat Local Bonus program creates strong start to 2023 for local eateries
The one-month program offers $25 gift cards as rewards for purchases from restaurants and bars. Residents submit receipts totaling $100 per day to the local Chamber of Commerce. Eat Local Bonus allows three redemptions per participant through the end of January 2023 or as long as funds are available. Diners select their gift cards from a list of participating businesses. This incentive follows a Buy Local Bonus program that buoyed retailers early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
San Luis Obispo, CA
United States
San Antonio, TX counters impacts of road work on small businesses with construction mitigation pilot
The $400,000 program assists small businesses in 13 project zones over a six-month period. A majority of the funding focuses on signage and marketing about business access during public works projects. San Antonio produced a Small Business Toolkit with city contacts, project information, and suggestions for business operations in construction areas. Partnerships with Waze and Liftfund improve access to real-time lane closure information and zero-interest deferred loans, respectively.
San Antonio, TX
United States
East Suffolk District Council, GB Digital Springboard provides resources for business digitalization
Local businesses learn how to increase their digital presence through this online resource. This website presents free online workshops and a calendar of in-person events from MENTA. A Digital MOT survey evaluates each user's current assets and opportunities for digital growth. The Digi-Resource directory includes free tools for making logos and designing web pages. Entrepreneurs can apply for grants of up to £1,750 for software and consulting services through Digital Springboard.
East Suffolk District Council, GB
United Kingdom
Hoboken, NJ promotes local shopping during the holiday season with reserved public parking pilot
Hoboken worked with ParkMobile on a reservation system for parking spots at three public garages. Shoppers can book their spaces seven days a week through ParkMobile, thus reducing time spent finding vacant spots. Garages participating in the pilot also provide up to four hours of free parking with proof of at least $20 spent at local stores and eateries. The city also offers a 50% discount for selected on-street spots with the PARKHOB code in ParkMobile.
Hoboken, NJ
United States