Green Life Business Forum

Communities First, Inc. is Helping Businesses Go Green in the Spring with its first Green Life Business Forum

FLINT, Michigan (03/20/15) Communities First, Inc.’s (CFI) Green Life Community Education Program will host its first business forum on Friday, March 27 from 11:30am to 1:00pm.  This event will be held at the University of Michigan-Flint Urban Alternatives House (924 Eddy Street Flint, Michigan 48503).  The Business Forum is open to any business in Flint and Genesee County that is interested in becoming more green.  Businesses that want to create a healthy, green work environment for their employees, reduce their operating cost and positively impact our community by adopting environmentally friendly practices are encouraged to attend.

Topics and presenting organizations for the Forum include:

• Sustainability – University of Michigan
  The Urban Alternative House is a U of M initiative where sustainable urban energy, water and natural ecosystems can be studied.  The university’s energy and sustainable systems program prepares student for careers and graduate work in the rapidly growing environmental disciplines of energy and sustainable systems.
• Becoming Landfill Free – General Motors
  General Motors has 122 facilities worldwide that have become “landfill free”, meaning that they recycle, reuse or convert to energy all waste from daily operations.
• Funding Energy Upgrades – Michigan Saves
  Michigan Saves is a nonprofit dedicated to making energy improvements easier for all Michigan energy consumers. To accomplish this, Michigan Saves makes affordable financing and other incentives available through grants and partnerships with private sector lenders.
• Green Cleaning Supplies – Shaklee
  Shaklee offers cleaning products that are better for the environment and for employee health.  The products are non-toxic, natural, sustainably sourced and reliable.
• Connecting to the Environment – Communities First, Inc.
  Eco-psychology offers the opportunity to understand the connection between employees and their environment.  There is a direct correlation between a healthy workplace and employee productivity.
• Eco-Friendly Restaurant Supplies – Michigan Green Safe Products
  Michigan Green Safe Products provides eco-friendly alternatives to oil-based disposable products to more than 300 businesses, universities, and hospitals in Michigan.  Their products are made from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, and biomass.
• Recycling and Waste Reduction – Republic Services
  Republic Services is committed to on-time service for customers needs while bringing positive changes to the environment in ways such as expanding their recycling offerings, responsibly handling your waste, and adding low-emissions vehicles to their fleet.

“This forum allows Communities First, Inc. to extend the reach of Green Life to businesses.  We are pulling together important partners and together we can set a positive example through our collective actions, while lowering operating costs and promoting a healthier work environment for employees.  Sustainability is a three pronged approach which addresses social, economic and environmental impacts and this forum touches on each of these components,” said Glenn Wilson, President and CEO of Communities First, Inc.

Lunch will be provided and space is limited for this event.  Please RSVP to info@communitiesfirstinc.org or (810) 422-5358.

About Communities First, Inc.
Communities First, Inc. is a Flint based nonprofit Community Development Corporation which was founded in 2010. The priorities of CFI are affordable housing, economic development, green programs, and quality of life programs. CFI is committed to building sustainable, equitable communities in distressed areas.  The organization is the developer of Oak Street Senior Apartments, a $5.1 million 24 unit apartment building for low income seniors located in downtown Flint, Swayze Court Apartments, and has amongst its programs Culture Shock and Green Life. More information about Communities First, Inc. can be found at communitiesfirstinc.org