Entrepreneurs for Sustainability, abbreviated as E4S, is a business network in the Greater Cleveland area oriented towards sustainability and entrepreneurship. The organization was founded in 2000 by Holly Harlan, owner of a business consulting firm in Cleveland Heights,Carol A. Lucas, "Squeezing out waste can create new opportunities.(Sustainability principles used by local businesses in Ohio)(Brief Article)", Crain's Cleveland Business, Aug. 12, 2002. with the goal of encouraging economic development and startup businesses oriented towards positive change and addressing environmental issues.Laura Faye Taxel, "Doing business, naturally: an Entrepreneurs Group encourages green practices. (Green Business)", Inside Business, Mar. 1st, 2003. Meetings are hosted by Great Lakes Brewing Company."Unconventional brewery pours over strategies; Brothers push sustainability in Cleveland.(Pat Conway and Dan Conway of Great Lakes Brewing Co.)", Waste News, Feb. 19th, 2007. The organization is growing, with 5800 members in 2008.
Sustainability-oriented startup companies associated with the group include BioDiesel Cleveland, Sustainable Solutions, a green building consultant firm, and Good Nature, a sustainability-focused lawn care service."Making Change: Sustainable Businesses", 90.3 WCPN ideastream, Wednesday, May 28, 2003. Non-profit organizations associated with the group include EcoCity Cleveland (which has merged into the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as the GreenCityBlueLake Institute), Green Energy Ohio, and the Cleveland Green Building Coalition.
The organization awards a "Champions of Sustainability" award to regional leaders who have implemented principles of sustainability.
Services and programs
In addition to their regular monthly meetings, Entrepreneurs for Sustainability provides a number of services to its members. One such program is called the Sustainability Implementation Group, which is oriented towards small and medium businesses, and gets companies to visit each other's facilities and learn about new technologies, with one goal being the formation of new revenue streams associated with sustainability., Nadya Zhexembayeva, GreenBiz.com, Aug. 1, 2006. The group also received grant money in 2004 from the state of Ohio to hold workshops on energy efficiency in counties throughout northeast Ohio."EPA GRANT TO FUND ENERGY WORKSHOPS", Akron Beacon Journal (OH), Oct. 23, 2004, B5 Metro. In 2006, the organization received $20,000 from the Burton D. Morgan Foundation to build and strengthen its programs."FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES GRANTS, TRUSTEES OF BURTON MORGAN APPROVE 16 AWARDS TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FREE ENTERPRISE", Akron Beacon Journal (OH), Oct. 7, 2008, B2 B.
References
External links E4S Homepage Green City Blue Lake - A sustainability-oriented event calendar for Northeast Ohio.