Sustainable Connections 2014 Annual Report

Photo courtesy of Pattie Rowlson

2014 Yearly Review

Vision We envision a thriving, collaborative community where local businesses are prosperous, and contribute to a healthy environment and the well-being of all citizens.

Mission To be the forum where businesses come together to model a vibrant local economy built on sustainable practices.

STRATEGIC GOALS & 2014 RESULTS

2014 brings a new Strategic Plan, strong partnerships and positive results!

Dear friends, colleagues and neighbors, 2014 was an important year for Sustainable Connections as we completed a major strategic planning project, strengthened services for our member and partner businesses, expanded a powerful Board of Directors and continued to, with the support of our community, deliver outstanding impact through our programs.

Our mission is “To be the forum where businesses come together to transform and model a vibrant local economy built on sustainable practices.” When we talk about transformation and modeling sustainable practices, we mean moving toward a mindset and management strategies that produce triple bottom line or People, Planet, Profit business performance. Many already intuitively operate their businesses, organizations and households this way. It’s why we have such a strong community. We aim to build on this foundation by adding systems that help us improve on the art and the science of community building.

As Sustainable Connections enters its 14th year, one lesson we have learned is that as we are more successful when taking on larger and more complex sustainability opportunities when we take a collaborative approach. Local business remains at the core as we weave in support from local and state government, other non-profits, and importantly, you acting as a dedicated Local each and every day. In the coming years you can expect to see bigger and bigger impact with more and more partners involved in our work.

Our 2015-2017 Strategic Plan was developed with greater input from the community than any previous plan. Building business Know How, Growing Markets, Engaging Businesses in sustainable practices, Public Policy and Organizational Strength are the high level goals with well-constructed strategies that will guide our actions. The Plan is available in full on our website at www.

SustainableConnections.org. We offer many thanks to all who contributed your thoughts and passions.

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KNOW HOW

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT

4

PUBLIC POLICY

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ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH

Expand market opportunities for locally owned businesses

Enhance engagement of members, partners and program participants

Promote public policy that supports sustainable products, services and business practices

Foster excellence in our organization to maximize our impact

350 attended Future of Business Speaker Series featuring regional and national speakers including Vincent Stanley, VP of Marketing for Patagonia

To-date 1735 home energy assessments, leading to 1312 projects completed by local contractors

455 businesses to-date participating in the Community Energy Challenge receiving energy assessments and assistance in completing facility upgrades

2014 study finds that every dollar of public funds spent on Community Energy Challenge projects yields $5.27 in local economic activity

Finalized 2015-2017 Strategic Plan and shared it with partners and the public to generate collaborative opportunities

Worked with NW Solar Communities and WA State Department of Commerce to support consistency and streamlined solar permitting for installers and clients in three cities

Over 100 volunteers and 10 interns increased our impact and stretched our dollars

50 local realtors participated in Green Genius Real Estate Training courses learning how to value and sell energy efficiency and green building features of a home 150 building industry professionals and government representatives participated in annual Sustainable Design & Development Conference 150 farmers, chefs, grocery buyers, food artisans, processors and distributors participated in the best attended annual Food & Farming Trade Meeting to date

With anticipation of another great year,

170 members participated in Monthly Member Lunch offering education and networking

1701 Ellis St., Ste 221 • Bellingham, WA 98225 • 360 647-7093 sustainableconnections.org

MARKET GROWTH

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Encourage “People, Planet, Profit” philosophy within businesses

To the right you’ll see a high level report with 2014 results, organized by strategic goal. I am so proud of and thankful for our talented Team, Board of Directors, and dozens of Program Advisors for their hard work and guidance.

I also want to say how much I appreciate all those whose investments make these results possible, including Members and Partners, Sponsors, Foundations, Government Funders and individual donors.

Derek Long Executive Director

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Farm Fresh Workplace Toolkit created to assist local businesses in planning Community Supported Agriculture programs for their employees 4 new farmers welcomed to Food to Bank On project providing business training, mentorship, and connection to local markets, while delivering fresh food to local food banks and shelters – to date, a total of 44 farmers have completed training

350 visitors at Home & Landscape Tour featuring local contractors, designers and service providers 450 local residents attended Whatcom Water Fest featuring 18 different businesses and local organizations

Measure What Matters campaign and Quick Impact Assessment tool launch helping local businesses identify opportunities to improve their sustainable practices

70 restaurants, retailers and food artisans participated in the Eat Local First campaign. Currently local businesses are sourcing 43% of their food budgets locally!

379 businesses to-date participating in Toward Zero Waste keeping waste out of the landfill by reducing, reusing and recycling. 82% have successfully diverted waste!

4,500+ participants enjoyed Eat Local Month festivities featuring 26 events including the Whatcom County Farm Tour and 19 participating restaurants

24 downtown businesses became stewards of downtown rain gardens in an effort to keep Whatcom Creek clean

30,000 Whatcom Food & Farm Finders distributed throughout 7 counties 10,000 copies of Culinary Agritourism Map distributed in 300+ locations highlighting tourist interests related to food and local businesses 57,000 Think Local First flyers inserted into local publications listing and promoting local businesses and over 750 posters distributed for business promotion

154 members participated in monthly Member Connect networking breakfasts Chef’s Collaborative created providing a forum for chefs and food artisans to connect, share ideas and promote local food Green Building Nerds Users Group started as a forum for design and building professionals to share challenges and brainstorm smart solutions

Provided economic development policy recommendations to the City of Bellingham through the Business Climate Workgroup convened by Mayor Linville Endorsed the Washington Business Climate Declaration, along with 200 other businesses and organizations throughout the state Convened a diverse group of architects, builders and developers to provide the City of Bellingham Planning Department feedback on potential new Smart Growth incentives Completed City of Bellingham partnership on the pilot Homeowner Incentive Program (HIP) to improve Lake Whatcom water quality

Annual board and staff retreats focusing on team building and business engagement training 4 new board members Selected as a United Way grant recipient and maintained a three month operative reserve while delivering increased community impact Green Building & Smart Growth program partnered with NW Washington American Institute of Architects providing successful educational events and publications benefiting local businesses and furthering shared policy goals Beginning stages of partnership formed between Sustainable Connections Measure What Matters pilot program and Western Washington University’s new Sustainable Business program with the goal of bringing business owners technical assistance and learning opportunities for students

OUR PROGRAMS

OUR MEMBERS

Sustainable Connections is a non-profit network of local businesses facilitating sustainable economic development by providing: 1. Education and Know How: Encouraging the People, Planet, Profit philosophy within businesses by providing resources and technical assistance that builds our community’s capacity to participate in the opportunities of a sustainable economy 2. Market Growth: Expanding market opportunities for locally owned businesses through positive communications and powerful public campaigns 3. Business Engagement: Enhancing engagement of members, partners and program participants by providing easy to advanced level involvement opportunities for a diverse business audience 4. Public Policy: Promoting Public Policy that supports sustainable products, services and business practices through advocacy, business education and offering expert advice to policy makers Sustainable Connections often uses the term People, Planet, Profit (and you should feel free to use it too!) to describe managing business with a triple bottom line that sets goals and measures performance against not only the traditional profit bottom line, but also for social and environmental goals. “Sustainable Practices” is also an interchangeable term used by Sustainable Connections.

We support our members’ People, Planet, Profit goals through the following program areas and campaigns: Sustainable Business Development - Helping local businesses become more sustainable in their daily activities. Offering educational opportunities and resources including the well-attended Future of Business Speaker Series and Monthly Member education and networking Lunches. Improving People, Planet, Profit policies in small businesses through Toward Zero Waste, Smart Trips Partnership, and Workplace CSA’s.

Green Building & Smart Growth – Promoting healthy and efficient buildings and vibrant neighborhoods so that we have an improved quality of life. Educating building professionals and local government through the Sustainable Design and Development Conference and expert level Green Building Nerds Group meetings. Marketing sustainable building and planned growth to consumers with events like the Imagine This! Home and Landscape Tour and through media partnerships.

Food & Farming – Connecting people to local food and farmers, which keeps people healthy, keeps farmers farming and keeps our money here. Publicizing local, sustainable, high quality agriculture in publications like the Whatcom Food & Farm Finder and the Whatcom County Farm Tour. Guiding local consumers to local foods through Eat Local Month and the Eat Local First campaign. Growing local farms of the future with support and mentoring through the Food to Bank On Project.

Energy Efficiency & Renewables – Promoting the efficient use of clean, renewable energy so that we have less pollution and greater energy independence. Connecting businesses and residents with the resources and information they need to reduce energy consumption through Community Energy Challenge supported energy assessments and facility upgrade assistance. Facilitating investments in renewable energy companies and solutions. Informing local, state and federal governments of effective energy policy opportunities.

Think Local First – Encouraging people to shop at locally owned businesses which support local jobs, keeps money circulating in our local economy, ensures unique shopping choices and protects the unique character of our communities. Supporting local business growth and market enhancement through robust informational campaigns that change consumers’ habits to boost small business success.

“Our first membership as a new business was to Sustainable Connections. Initially, the primary value we saw in being members were the networking opportunities.

Since that first year, Sustainable Connections has helped us promote countless outreach events that helped us build our business, organized industry specific trainings and workshops that helped keep our crew ahead of the competition, and they’ve introduced us to other local business leaders who have been instrumental in our growth.“ Ian Rae, Chuckanut Builders “For more than a dozen years Sustainable Connections has been my go-to business organization.

No one has done more in promoting and helping small businesses achieve a triple bottom line. I can’t imagine this community without Sustainable Connections.”

“Being a member of Sustainable Connections brings with it a sense of community enthusiasm.

Membership is a very low investment for a very high return benefitting our People, Planet and our Profit!”

Janet Lightener, Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro

“As a farm owner, it can be easy to overlook the value of an intangible service like a marketing and promotional campaign, especially when the tangible needs of my business are high. But, I’ve watched the foundation of the Eat Local First campaign being laid over the past ten years and how consumer demand for local product has sky-rocketed in that time.

Eat Local First has shed a light on the food and farmers of Whatcom County helping to create a vibrant, local food economy.”

Chuck Robinson, Village Books & Paper Dreams

Anna Martin, Osprey Hill Farm

“When itek Energy started four years ago, budgets were very tight.

We were boot-strapping a small business in an industry with global competitors and deep pockets.

The success we had in our first year driving internal cost savings through energy retrofits, and reducing our waste and disposal costs would not have been possible without program support from Sustainable Connections.

Moreover, the Community Energy Challenge and the Green Building programs have created an un-paralleled buzz about solar in Whatcom County. Bellingham is tied for 1st place for the most solar installations per capita in the state. Much of this success is directly contributable to the networks and outreach Sustainable Connections provides.”

Karl Unterschuetz, Itek Energy

“As a start up business in Bellingham it was important for me to find partners and have people to go to with questions; and I found support at Sustainable Connections. Before Q Laundry was even built Sustainable Connections helped me by taking the time to understand what I planned to do and how I planned to do it. They listened first, then gave their best sustainable practice advice.

They ‘get it’ and are weaving a network of mutual support between businesses, customers and neighbors.”

Colleen Unema, Q Laundry

We want YOU to be a member!

Join Today

sustainableconnections.org Local businesses taking action for a healthy community.

SUPPORTERS

2014 FINANCIALS

6%

Many thanks to these supporters of Sustainable Connections and our programs. They help make our important work possible.

15%

Northwest Washington

79% EXPENSES Administration Programs Fundraising Total

4%

17%

$148,543 $801,211 $65,758 $1,015,512

12% 19%

48% INCOME Membership Program Income Public & Private Contracts Foundations Donations Total

$121,170 $196,733 $486,133 $173,750 $38,841 $1,016,851

Washington State Department of Commerce Washington State University

SUSTAINABLE CONNECTIONS STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Derek Long, Executive Director

Andy Anderson, President & CEO, Index Industries

Michelle Grandy, Communications Director

Dave Finet, Executive Director, Opportunity Council

Rose Lathrop, Green Building & Smart Growth Manager

David Johnston, Clearstory Investments & Skipping Stone Foundation

Sara Southerland, Food & Farming Program Manager

Janet Lightner, General Manager, Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro

Mark Peterson, Sustainable Business Manager

Carole MacDonald, Board Member, Bellingham Whatcom County

April Claxton, Office Manager

Tourism and Mt. Baker Foothills Chamber of Commerce

Sam Gearhart, Development Manager

Neil McCarthy, Project Architect, RMC Architects

Abby Hade Terpstra, Membership Coordinator

Amy McIlvaine, Dahlquist Kitchen

Erin McCain-Anderson, Events Coordinator

Siobhan Murphy, Consulting Director, Thrive Business Group

Becca Taber, Food & Farming Program Assistant

Ian Rae, Owner, Chuckanut Builders

Amy Vergillo, Communications Assistant

Cheryl Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farm Center

Emily Kubiak, Energy Advisor

Karl Unterschuetz, Business Development Director, Itek Energy

Jeff Aslan, Business Energy Project Advisor Nancy Orlowski, Energy Program Assistant