Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City of Madison's sponsorship for Sustain Dane's Accelerate Sustainability Workshops, Green Team Roundtables, and Sustain Dane Membership by providing $40,000 to the program. Funding for this expense is included in the 2020 Adopted Capital Budget for Engineering - Facilities Management as GO Borrowing under the Sustainability Improvements program (MUNIS 10563). No additional appropriation is required.
Title
City of Madison Sponsorship of Sustain Dane's Accelerate Sustainability Workshops, Green Team Roundtables, and Sustain Dane Membership.
Body
WHEREAS, since 2009, Sustain Dane's MPower Champions Program has provided 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, over 110 Madison-area businesses and organizations have excelled as MPower Business Champions, creating positive change in areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste reduction, 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, 60 million lbs. of CO2 emissions avoided, and $2 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 that want to stay 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 2019 the network has over 90 organizations, more than half not having participated in MPower; and,
WHEREAS, in 2019 Sustain Dane spent a year to research, engage with past, current, and potential future participants (including City staff), conducted strategic thinking on the ten years of the MPower and SBN programs and participated in the StartingBlock’s Social Impact Initiative; and,
WHEREAS, in 2020 Sustain Dane will build on the success of MPower and SBN in ways that enhance sustainability education and implementation in the business sector, provide a more robust program offering, reduce barriers to participation, and increase engagement, participation, and diverse inclusion in the sustainability movement; and,
WHEREAS, Sustain Dane seeks assistance from The City of Madison in the amount of $40,000 to support the Accelerate Sustainability Workshops, Green Team Roundtables and Sustain Dane Membership; and,
WHEREAS, Sustain Dane has secured assistance from MGE to support the Accelerate Sustainability Workshops, Green Team Roundtables and Sustain Dane Membership in 2020; and,
WHEREAS, by funding Sustain Dane’s programs, the City of Madison assumes a leadership role in climate change mitigation and preparedness, positioning our businesses to thrive in the future, demonstrates its commitment to innovation and accessible programing, being proactive in addressing the regions challenges, ensuring that 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,
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 Accelerate Sustainability Workshops, Green Team Roundtables, and Sustain Dane Membership in 2020.