Nancy Navarro

A press release from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/5/2012
Contact: Jonathan Sachs
301-738-0015 x205

jsachs@mcccmd.com

TODAY: Chamber of Commerce, Department of Environmental Protection Leaders to Showcase Ride On Bus Ad Campaign

Highlighting Montgomery County ‘Green Certified’ Companies

Prior to the Wednesday, December 5th Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Business Awards Dinner, Montgomery County Director of Environmental Protection, Bob Hoyt, Montgomery College Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Donald Pearl, and Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce President Gigi Godwin will showcase a Ride On bus ad campaign that will promote the Green Business Certification Program and participating companies.

The campaign encourages more companies to “get on board” the green business movement by getting certified and featured in future promotions. The advertisement reads, “Mommy and Daddy, Where Do You Work?” and lists the 42 current Green Certified Businesses in Montgomery County. Representatives from these businesses as well as members of the Montgomery County Chamber Board of Directors will be on hand for the showcase.

“We greatly appreciate MCCC’s recognition of our successful partnership in the Green Business Certification Program, which is creating a greener economy in Montgomery County,” said Leggett. “Businesses understand that they can improve their bottom line when they take steps to improve the environment. The Green Business Certification Program is encouraging environmental responsibility, and customers will have a way of recognizing which businesses are going green. Businesses are telling us that our comprehensive program is actually motivating them to further expand their green activities.”

“The Green Business Certification Program is a great example of government and business working together to achieve common goals. Congratulations to the Chamber, DEP, and all the agencies and companies involved in this project for helping to make Montgomery County a greener place,” said Council President Nancy Navarro.

The businesses that have been certified under the County’s Green Business Certification Program have demonstrated their commitment to environmental stewardship, conservation of energy and water, carbon footprint reduction, and waste reduction and recycling. The Green Business Program was launched in December 2009 by the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery College, to recognize voluntary efforts to protect, preserve and improve the environment.

“Montgomery College is pleased to be involved with the Green Business Certification program,” said Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President, Montgomery College. “Green strategies for businesses are a key component to the future of community stewardship. Montgomery County is devoted to educating businesses in these important practices.”

“The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is strongly committed to advancing opportunities for our businesses in the new green economy and to partnering with the County’s Department of Environmental Protection and Montgomery College to promote what has become a model, voluntary Green Business Certification Program,” said MCCC President and CEO Gigi Godwin. “These green-certified companies and employers – which include the Chamber itself – are pioneers in establishing best practices in their workplaces and we are pleased to be recognizing them for their success.”

The launch of the promotional campaign also coincides with the recent partnership between the Green Business Certification Program and the Center for Social Value Creation at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Under the partnership, four MBA students, who have been competitively screened by the Smith School, will help identify strategic opportunities to enhance benefits for Certified Green Businesses.

“It is gratifying to see that we’ve left the days where people thought that being good for the environment was bad for business and vice versa. That old outdated adage has been turned on its head. Now, thanks to this partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, companies know they can save money by going green and also appeal to the growing number of residents who want to do business with green companies,” said Montgomery County DEP Director Bob Hoyt.

A description of what the certified green businesses have done to earn their certification is available on the County’s website at http://mcgreenbiz.org/directory. For a complete list of Green Certified Business, please visit: http://www.montgomerycountychamber.com/foundation/green-business-certification-program

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