Exciting times, friends: it’s an election year!

The Sustainable Business Network has big goals for our next Mayor & City Council Members. Their campaign, the Good Economy Challenge, is trying to persuade candidates to embrace a more sustainably-focused, local economy.

So what’s the SBN’s grand plan? (Hint: it’s a good one.)

Sustainable Business Network’s Good Economy Challenge Issues

The stats are in: According to SBN’s Full Policy Paper,

Philadelphia’s small businesses form the backbone of our local economy. 98% of Philadelphia businesses are small businesses (defined as fewer than 50 employees), and 54% of jobs are created by small businesses.

1. Small Business:

• Improve the climate for small business in Philadelphia.
• Improve city service portals simplify the tax process, eliminate unnecessary law and provisions and connect the small business support system.

2. Procure Local:

• Prioritize local and sustainable business procurement by city government, universities, & other institutions.
• Make procurement easier, greener, and local!

3. Green City, Clean Waters:

• Improve our water ways, green our city, and further the green stormwater infrastructure industry by advancing the City’s Green City, Clean Waters plan.

4. Solar Homes:

• Move Philadelphia to 20,000 Solar Homes by 2025. Make property tax abatement policies sustainable, educate consumers on solar, and incentivize solar jobs for youth.

5. Social Enterprise:

• Strengthen the partnership between the City and Certified B-Corps.
• Double the Sustainable Business Tax Credit and apply it to profits.
• Expand the “Jump Start” program for Certified B-Corps.

Sounds groovy, right?!? And you’re so pumped that you want to get involved. Good news – you can do so from the comfort of your laptop or smartphone, in person and email.

Here’s how:

Good Economy Challenge: Twitter Chat

We’re co-hosting a Twitter Chat with Sustainable Business Network, Forsei Consulting & Generocity on Wednesday, April 8th at noon. We’ll ask the candidates to answer the tough questions about the 5 issues above – in 140 characters or less. 😉

Follow along with the hashtag #GoodEconomyPhilly.

The Good Economy Candidate Forum

Get off your smartphone) and join the candidates talk about the Good Economy Candidate Forum on April 25th!

• What: Hear TedX Philadelphia Speaker Chris Rabb ask Philadelphia Mayoral candidates about small business, city government, Green Cities Clean Waters, Solar, B-Corps & more.
• When: Saturday, April 25, 2015, 6:30 – 9:00 PM
• Where: Temple University Fox School of Business, Alter Hall Auditorium, 1801 Liacouras Walk, Philadelphia PA 19122
• Cost: FREE! (But you should donate to SBN too.)
• Register: Via Ticketleap here.

We’ll be live tweeting the event (as will Generocity) so you can catch the important parts, too.

C’mon friends: Let’s make sustainable, small businesses a win for Philly.

Readers, are you going to the Good Economy Challenge? Share this post on your favorite Social Network to help get your friends involved, too!

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher