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Sustainability: Economic, Environmental, AND Social Equity
By Jeri Hansen-Gill

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Sustainable Napa County continues its work with local nonprofits to bring resource conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy options to this important sector of our community. Building and behavioral assessments are currently underway for the second group of organizations in SNC’s nonprofit sustainability program. These assessments will allow SNC and the partner nonprofit to identify the highest priority and return on investment measures and begin putting them in place – making a positive financial and environmental difference almost immediately.

To complement this program, SNC is bringing together additional tools to offer to nonprofit organizations that assist with filling any gaps in funding or financing, and provide outreach and support including:

• Working with PG&E and local resource agencies on the variety of available rebates and incentives for resource efficiency improvements;
• Facilitating nonprofit enrollment and certification through the Napa County Green Business program;
• Developing, in partnership with our local community banks, a revolving loan fund that will offer lower interest rates to nonprofits making resource efficiency and/or renewable energy improvements;
• Exploring the linkages between sustainability and public health, and pursuing grants and funding that will allow this program to roll out to a larger nonprofit audience;
• Providing each participating nonprofit with a ready-made outreach kit complete with templates for news releases, newsletter articles, letters to the editor, PSA’s, and local media information.

Eventually, SNC plans to replicate this model and offer a similar program to businesses in Napa County who interested in saving money, conserving natural resources, and enhancing our community.