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Planning Process

Overview

The Green Business Certification Program planning process is summarized in the schematic shown below. Note that planning a GBCP is not a linear process; it may be necessary to return to previous steps and re-visit decisions made. To learn more each flow chart NAME is linked to the element's detailed information; or you can download the information in a pdf file for printing and hands-on use.

graphic with links to creating GB Plan



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Geographic Focus

The Bay Area Green Business Program began at the county level, grew into a regional program and now is expanding statewide. Program administration continues to be at the county level. The Green Business Programs in Hawaii and Arizona were developed at the state level with initial implementation occurring in one or two cities. In general, states with small populations such as Idaho, Oregon and Montana have state level programs, while states with large populations such as California and Colorado have city, county and regional programs. Small states are in a better position to develop state-level programs than large states with complex bureaucracies.

For a state level GBCP, it is important to consider the pros and cons of piloting the program in a large city or county, a small city or county, or at the state level. If it starts out in the capitol or a large city, this may discourage other cities from adopting the program, as they may be concerned that the program will be dominated by the big city. While starting the program at the state level may result in a good long-term buy-in, it may also be challenging to set up, as the program will require the participation of many local regulatory agencies.

Identify Key Players (back)

The following is a list of possible key players/program partners, reasons to include or not include them in the Core Team and the role they may play.

  1. Government Agency Representation
  2. Business Representation
  3. Business Assistance Program Representation
  4. Environmental and Public Interest Organization Representation
  5. Elected Representatives
Governmental Agency Representation - Possible regulatory and other governmental agencies that may participate on the planning team include:
  1. agencies which regulate hazardous materials, hazardous waste, industrial waste discharges, air quality, non-point source pollution, and other sources of pollution. This may include fire departments, sanitary districts, and stormwater districts, Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW--an acronym for wastewater treatment plants) and Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs--these are specific to California); agencies that have the potential to assist with resource conservation (like utilities and waste management), cities, counties, regional entities
  2. other state agencies federal agencies.

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