Small Business Award Program

Announcing the 2009 Small Business Award Winners!

The annual CoolCalifornia Small Business Award Program is administered by the California Air Resources Board.

The program recognizes small California businesses and organizations (under 100 employees) that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable, voluntary achievements towards reducing their climate impact.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive notification of the 2010 Award Program.

Who May Apply

California small businesses (100 or fewer employees) that can demonstrate climate leadership through a commitment to implementing and promoting climate–friendly practices.

Award Categories

• CoolCalifornia Excellence Awards
Businesses from across the state will be evaluated individually, based upon their own accomplishments (up to 20 awards).

• CoolCalifornia Small Business of the Year
Approximately five ‘Small Business of the Year’ awards will be awarded to businesses from across the state that demonstrate exceptional climate change management practices and climate change communication.

Eligibility

The awards will be presented for voluntary achievements culminated in the previous program year. Competition is open to all California small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Projects are deemed ineligible if they are the result of mitigation, litigation, or required by legislation.

Selection/Criteria

The Selection Committee, comprised of agency staff and business leaders, will evaluate applications based on the response to application questions and on the criteria described below. Evaluations will take into consideration differences in size, region, and scope of projects, as needed.

• Results: Steps taken to achieve results are described; results are defined in measurable terms; environmental and economic benefits are identified and documented.

• Transferability: Project can be readily transferred to others within the same sector and perhaps between different sectors; others can easily implement.

• Environmental/Resource Conservation Impact: Accomplishment includes more than one environmental media or resource; project or program has long lasting and sustainable impact; magnitude of impact is described and significant.

• Innovation/Uniqueness: Demonstrates basic practice to unique, innovative practice and perhaps a paradigm shift in approach.

• Pollution Prevention: Achieves reductions in the generation of waste through source reduction; increased public-private awareness of pollution prevention; exemplifies best practices with a cross-media focus.

The deliberative process of the Selection Committee is confidential and all decisions are final subject to applicable California state law.

Award Winners

The CoolCalifornia Awards Ceremony will be held in Sacramento, CA. The winners will be recognized by a California Air Resources Board resolution as well as a press release and a featured story on CoolCalifornia.org. Award winners may receive additional exposure through media coverage of the awards ceremony. Award winners receive authorization to use the CoolCalfornia winner logo in their window as well as with their products, advertising, and business websites to publicize their achievements. Award winners will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the Awards Ceremony.

Enforcement Checking Practice

Environmental and workplace performance enforcement background checks were conducted by following a procedure established by the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards. This process included contacting the following agencies:

Local Air Districts
Air Resource's Boards Stationary Source Enforcement Branch
California Integrated Waste Management Board Compliance and Enforcement
Department of Pesticide Regulation - Statewide and Agriculture County Commissions
Department of Toxic Substances Control - Regional and Local Offices
Department of Toxic Substances Control - Pollution Prevention Controls
Regional Water Quality Control Boards
State Water Resources Control Board - Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Unit
CalOSHA Enforcement Unit District Offices

The enforcement background check did not include a check of suppliers, etc., to each business or organization. Note too that this was the first year for the CoolCalifornia Small Business Award; our enforcement checking guidelines may change in future years.

How to Apply

Application guidelines will be provided during the open period.

Sign up for the CoolCalifornia mailing list to be notified of the 2010 Award Program application period.

For more information, contact Heather Choi at hchoi@arb.ca.gov or at (916) 322-3893.