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Honoring the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and its Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners on the occasion of the Excellence in GSI Awards Ceremony.
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WHEREAS, In a time when the world’s environmental problems have never been more urgent, many businesses too often concern themselves only with their economic bottom line, without consideration of the environmental or social impacts of their actions. Thankfully, Philadelphians benefit from individuals and organizations who support businesses in their efforts to have a positive impact on the surrounding community and the City at large; and
WHEREAS, The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) is an organization comprised of local independent businesses, each of whom demonstrate the capacity of businesses to build profitable enterprises while serving community needs, sharing wealth, and protecting the environment. SBN emphasizes that a business’s guiding principle should not be just the financial bottom line, but rather, the triple bottom line: economic, social, and environmental; and
WHEREAS, One of SBN’s signature initiatives is the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners program. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) are soil-water-plant systems that manage wet weather through infiltration, retention, and evapotranspiration. The GSI Partners Program works to advance innovation in the GSI industry and the local economy as it relates to GSI; and
WHEREAS, SBN and its GSI Partners have been instrumental in the elevation of the City of Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters Program. Adopted in 2011, Green City, Clean Waters is the City’s 25-year plan to reduce stormwater pollution entering the watershed through the use of green infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Green City, Clean Waters is an inspiring example of the triple bottom line in action. GSI brings about numerous environmental benefits ranging from improved water quality to reduced air pollution, but SBN’s research also found that the Program has catalyzed significant investment in local, independent businesses. This resulted in an $89 million annual economic impact and the support of 927 jobs per year. GSI projects, by building nature back into the urban environment, led to 4354 fewer crimes in 2018 alone, along with an annual total health-related cost savings of $50.1 million. Furthermore, with two-thirds of public projects and nearly half of private projects taking place in low or moderate income communities, GSI supports equity goals by helping to build safer, healthier communities for all Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, The tremendous success of Green City, Clean Waters rests on a strong, local, independent GSI industry, and SBN’s work is committed to building a community of mission-focused businesses that drive innovation, collaboration, and ultimately delivers the most sustainable outcomes for the plan; and
WHEREAS, In support of this work, SBN has established an annual Excellence in GSI Awards Ceremony. The Excellence in GSI Awards are the region’s only awards that celebrate GSI projects and innovation, the triple bottom line, the benefits of a nature-based approach to stormwater management, and the partners who bring these projects to life in the Greater Philadelphia Area. This year’s ceremony will take place on May 23, 2019 at FringeArts. where SBN will announce which of the worthy finalists will be crowned as winners; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and its Green Stormwater Infrastructure Partners on the occasion of the Excellence in GSI Awards Ceremony.
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