Portlanders have been talking in their sustainable libraries and wheat grass shot-shops about building a big, new off-road bike park. The city, and state, listened. Oregon teamed up with Indiegogo, and is looking to raise $100,000 to turn 38 acres of unused earth into a bike utopia. This could be the beginning of a new era of infrastructure investment; crowdfunding is big, but the government hasn’t so much as dipped its toe in the communally-funded pool. Since the recession, budgets have been slashed, and infrastructure projects have been stalled. Oregon could pave the way for cities and states around the country to repair their bridges and bottom lines.
[Image: Build Gateway Green, Indiegogo]
Tag: State Government
The New Kind of Corporate Structure—Baking Social Good Right Into the Business Plan
Do you know B Corps? It’s a new kind of corporate structure, that lets U.S. businesses incorporate as a “public benefit corporation.” The idea for a B Corp is that doing good things for society and caring for the environment are part of the company’s DNA, along with being a profitable business. Currently, B Corp status is available in 16 states and D.C. And it’s not just for bigger companies, like green-cleaning giant Method or outdoor gear company Patagonia. (Who by the way have discovered that being a B Corp helps attract Millennial talent.) Even tiny micro-companies can do it and make a big impact. Get inspired by this 2013 list of top B Corps. Think of all the different ways your B Corp could help your customers and the communities where you work and live.