November, 17 2010, 02:05pm EDT
First Ever Green Jobs Award Honorees Announced
NEW YORK
On November 16th, Green For All and SJF Institute announced the first ever Green Jobs Award honorees. The Green Jobs Award honors businesses that contribute to the economy and the environment.
The first Green Jobs Award honorees are: Alvarado Street Bakery, Bioengineering Group, CLEAResult, E Light Wind & Solar, Inc., FLS Energy, Melink Corporation, OPOWER, Petra Solar, Sellars Absorbent Materials and Southern Energy Management.
"Each of the companies chosen this year does its part in building the green economy through innovation and job creation here in the United States," says Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All. "They are demonstrating that by addressing the climate crisis we can take real steps in addressing the economic crisis as well."
Honorees are from across the country, representing diverse industries - from renewable energy and energy efficiency to consumer products and engineering. Together the companies honored today employ more than 1,300 people and their aggregate revenue exceeds $150 million.
"We hope that by acknowledging the tremendous work these companies are doing, we can support their noble efforts, and inspire other business leaders to follow their lead," says Bonny Moellenbrock, Executive Director of SJF Institute.
Applicants were judged on their contribution to environmental quality, the quality of their jobs and benefits, the diversity of employment opportunities, and their level of community engagement.
Honorees will receive a package of complimentary business services provided by Service Partners including Beyond the Bottom Line, Green Jobs Network, Green Retirement Plans, Hanson Bridgett, Relevance, Rimon Law, Singlebrook Technology, Springleaf Strategies, Social K, and the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Data and case studies on all applicants will also be compiled, creating a database of innovative green job creators that help tell the story of the green economy's potential.
The Green Jobs Award is made possible by the support of the Citi Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.
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"Ordinary people struggle more and more every day to make up for cuts to the public funding of healthcare, education, and transportation," she said. "This high stakes hypocrisy has to end."
At Inter Press Service, Jaime Atienza, equitable financing director at the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, pointed to the example of Zambia, one of 37 countries identified by Oxfam as facing rising levels of inequality.
While still struggling, Atienza wrote, through the G20 Common Framework on Debt, Zambia "secured serious debt relief and restructuring with both government and private creditors, which will help enable vital and urgent investments in health, education, and social protection."
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