Ames Businesses Receive Sustainability Award

From the City of Ames:

Posted 1/24/2020

Ames Mayor John Haila awarded three Ames businesses with the Smart Business Challenge Platinum Achievement Award for achieving the highest level of participation in the sustainability program. Barilla America, the Renewable Energy Group, and 3M Ames were honored at the annual Small Business Challenge luncheon held Thursday at Reiman Gardens.

The Smart Business Challenge is sponsored by Ames Electric Services to promote not only reduced consumption of electricity, but also to encourage Ames businesses to look comprehensively at reducing their carbon footprint and opportunities to support the City’s sustainability vision. Challenge participants complete a checklist that encompasses environmental, economic, and social sustainability components such as community engagement and volunteerism. Businesses that join the Smart Business Challenge work their way through green, bronze, silver, and gold stages before achieving platinum status by implementing innovative processes and initiatives that have not already been addressed and recognized.

“We are excited that our local business community is increasingly aware of and involved in sustainability issues,” said Merry Rankin, Ames Sustainability Coordinator. “Through the Challenge, we connect businesses with resources to make changes that can have a significant positive impact on carbon reduction. These changes can have a positive impact on a business’ bottom line, as well, and the future we leave for the generations that follow us.”

The Smart Business Challenge began with the citywide sesquicentennial celebration in 2014 and continues to enroll new participants each year. For more information on the Smart Business Challenge, go to www.CityOfAmes.org/SmartBusinessChallenge

BELOW: Mayor John Haila presents the Smart Business Challenge Platinum Achievement Award to Barilla America, the Renewable Energy Group, and 3M Ames.

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.