Job Training & Workforce Development
The Green Business Institute’s vision is to be a catalyst for creating and expanding community wealth among the diverse Southwest Chicago community by empowering, building, and sustaining equitable pathways to developing business and career opportunities in the growing green economy.
Cultivate Collective has brought together ten expert partners to create an integrated business model that can address systemic barriers to wealth generation by developing a minority-led green business ecosystem among Black and Brown contractors, green sector businesses, local businesses and residents, and an international leader in green building certification.
The Green Business Institute will cultivate:
- Discovery about sustainability, green jobs, and green sector business opportunities among the diverse residents of Chicago’s southwest side; career pathways for diverse candidates to meet the forecasted exponential growth of jobs in the sector;
- Diversity in the ownership of green sector businesses, with an emphasis on minority- and women-led businesses, positioning them to generate wealth as the green economy expands in response to significant federal, state, and city investments over the next decade and beyond;
- A local green business ecosystem that supports Black and Brown contractors, green enabling businesses, job candidates, nonprofits, and others, with the goal of creating greater business opportunities, livable wage jobs, career pathways, and wealth generating vehicles.
Additionally, the Institute will harness the business opportunity that lies at the intersection of industry (green construction and green sector-enabling businesses), population (with a focus on Black and Brown communities), and place (business and job creation on the southwest side).
While we believe the business opportunity zone lies at the convergence of this intersection, the collaboration will also support business and job creation opportunities within each of the three individual realms.
The Green Business Institute will contribute to the growth and evolution of significant capital investments on Chicago’s southwest side over the next decade and beyond, and multiply its impact by increasing the number of M/W/ DBE green-ready businesses prepared to meet the demand for green construction across the Chicago region.
The Green Business Institute will position Black and Hispanic contractors to harness business growth opportunities beyond business start-up and development support. A key impact of our work will be in positioning contractors to access working capital and allow them to scale.
Program Partners
Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC)
A place-based community development organization located on the southwest side whose primary goal is to build generational, inclusive, and sustainable wealth through entrepreneurial, commercial, and residential real estate development, as well as a variety of business and residential resources.
Southwest Collective
A nonprofit collection of local volunteers dedicated to improving the quality of life and economic vitality in the Midway area. The organization is working to establish a chamber of commerce to respond to the needs of small, local businesses by breaking down barriers and advocating for equitable solutions to support entrepreneurial endeavors.
Black Contractors Owners & Executives (BCOE)
BCOE is committed to supporting Black contractors and industry professionals through education, mentoring, advocacy, and legislation resulting in the economic growth and advancement of Black communities.
IL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC)
The IHCC contributes to the financial strength and well-being of Hispanics by helping businesses grow, create jobs, and drive prosperous communities. In 2021, IHCC supported 8,768 jobs created/retained and $132.1 million in access to financial resources including contracts awarded, revenue growth, and business loans.
HIRE360
HIRE360 has a 360° vision for community-connected employment achieved through localized mentorship, direct investment and specialized services to strengthen the participation of underrepresented populations in the Chicago area — with a special focus on engaging youth to consider the trades as a viable and inspiring career path, mentoring and growing Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) firms and creating a supply chain of partners that are accountable to higher participation standards.
Elevate
Elevate seeks to create a just and equitable world in which everyone has clean and affordable heat, power, and water in their homes and communities – no matter who they are or where they live. Elevate’s programs, policy agenda, and partners reflect this commitment.
Reactivate
A community solar energy platform supporting renewable energy development in local communities. It seeks to create positive social and environmental impact by collaborating with local partners to deliver renewable energy benefits to underserved people and places. Reactivate is a joint venture between Invenergy and Lafayette Square.
Phius
Committed to decarbonizing the built environment by making high-performance passive building the mainstream market standard. Phius trains and certifies professionals, maintains Phius building standards, certifies and quality assures passive buildings, and conducts research to further high- performance building. Phius is the largest certifier of passive house projects in North America.
Square Roots
Square Roots Urban Growers, Inc. (SQR) is the technology leader in indoor farming with a mission to responsibly bring its locally grown food to people in cities around the world, all year round. The company will link its development on campus to the training and jobs initiative of the Green Business Institute, in addition to creating 20-25 living-wage jobs with full benefits and equity.