Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City of Madison's sponsorship for Sustain Dane's Mpower Champions and Sustainable Business Network by providing $40,000 to the program. Funding for this support is included in the 2019 Adopted Capital Budget (Engineering-Facilities Management) within the Sustainability Improvments program. In 2019 $750,000 of GO Borrowing was authorized in the program for improvements and support of projects that reduce energy usage. (MUNIS 10563)
Title
City of Madison Sponsorship of Sustain Dane’s Mpower Champions and the Sustainable Business Network.
Body
WHEREAS, Sustain Dane's MPower Champions Program, MPower, is a one-year, fully customizable program for businesses and organizations in the Greater Madison Region that want to reduce their environmental impact while saving costs and creating a healthier and more engaging workplace and community; and,
WHEREAS, MPower is a proven and nationally recognized model for achieving sustainability success from within an organization, both EPA administrators Jackson and McCarthy have visited Madison to congratulate Madison on a collaborative approach to engaging the community in meaningful carbon reduction and the accompanying health related co-benefits through MPower; and,
WHEREAS, since 2009, over 100 Madison-area businesses and organizations have excelled as MPower Business Champions, creating positive change in areas of waste reduction, energy efficiency, transportation, supply chain efficiency, employee health and wellness, employee and community engagement, and more; and,
WHEREAS, as a result of the program, MPower Business Champions collectively realize an annual reduction of 18.9 million kWh saved, 59.2 million lbs. of CO2 emissions avoided, and $1.7 million dollars saved each year; and,
WHEREAS, as a result of funding from The City of Madison and the other “founding sponsor” Madison Gas and Electric, Sustain Dane has leveraged these funds annually to secure national grants and/or local corporate sponsors; and,
WHEREAS, in 2012, Sustain Dane launched a new program Sustainable Business Network (SBN) to compliment MPower and provide a network for MPower Alumni while engaging organizations not interested in the cohort model of the MPower program but interested in staying current and connected to a sustainable business community; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, The City of Madison became the first municipal member of SBN, and by 2018 the network has over 90 organizations, more than half not having participated in MPower; and
WHEREAS, Sustain Dane seeks assistance from The City of Madison in the amount of $40,000 to redesign and create MPower 2.0 in 2019 to be ready for implementation in 2020, to ensure that all organizations in Greater Madison who wish to develop, grow, and capitalize upon internal sustainability can, activities to support this re-design could include 1) conduct one-on-one consultation with 2018 program participation leads 2) survey and host focus groups with MPower alumni and SBN members 2)survey and host focus groups with non-program partipcant 3)pilot customized onsite sustainability workshops within leading community organizations
WHEREAS, Sustain Dane has secured assistance from MGE to support the redesign of MPower 2.0 in 2019; and,
WHEREAS, by funding Sustain Dane’s programs, The City of Madison assumes a leadership role in climate change mitigation and preparedness, in positioning our businesses to thrive in the future, demonstrates its commitment to innovation and accessible programing, being proactive in addressing the regions challenges, ensuring the Madison continues to be attractive to people and businesses by supporting the health of our environment, the competitiveness of our local businesses, and the meaningful connections among our citizens; and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the City Clerk are hereby authorized to provide funds in the amount of $40,000 to Sustain Dane to support the redesign of MPower in 2019.