PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today announced that businesses in Bellevue, Bridgeville, Coraopolis, Elizabeth, Stowe Twp., Swissvale, Tarentum and Verona will be eligible to participate in the Sustainable Business Designation Program, an effort to recognize businesses that are implementing sustainable practices. These eight communities are currently participating in Allegheny Together, a small business revitalization program that encourages well-planned, well-designed and geographically-focused investment in established urban commercial districts.

“The Sustainable Business Designation recognizes businesses for taking actions that are good for their bottom lines, the environment, and their communities,” said Onorato. “Allegheny County has been leading by example when it comes to sustainable practices, and we want to recognize those small businesses that are also stepping up to make our region an even better place to live, work and play. The Sustainable Business Designation Program is further solidifying Allegheny County’s position as a leader in sustainability and the green economy.”

Allegheny County Economic Development is partnering with Town Center Associates (TCA) and Sustainable Pittsburgh to bring the Sustainable Business Designation Program to the eight Allegheny Together communities. Starting now and continuing throughout the fall, TCA and Sustainable Pittsburgh staff will be visiting each Allegheny Together business owner to personally tell them about the program. Staff will provide business owners with information on resources available to assist them in implementing more sustainable practices, which will ultimately save the businesses money and have a more positive impact on the environment. Plans are also underway to create a workshop for Allegheny Together business owners to inform them of the resources and assistance available.

“The process for qualifying as a sustainable business requires paying attention to some basic issues that save money for businesses and enhance their connections to local communities,” said Sustainable Pittsburgh Program Manager Matthew Mehalik. “It takes but a few minutes to complete the assessment, which has been based on benchmarks related to smart growth policies and practices.”

The criteria used to verify sustainable businesses are based largely upon the Sustainable Community Essentials developed at the 9th Annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Smart Growth Conference organized by Sustainable Pittsburgh in 2009. Information is available at www.sustainablecommunityessentials.org. A list of resources has been assembled to help businesses meet the established criteria for receiving the designation. Those resources are available at www.downtownfirst.net/sustainable-businesses.

The County is developing a Sustainable Business decal that will be displayed at each qualifying business, helping consumers to identify and choose businesses that are committed to sustainability as a key part of their mission and business model. This Sustainable Business designation will also be reflected for each qualifying business in the business directory for their town available at www.downtownfirst.net.

“You can find business directories for more than 20 downtown-based communities at www.downtownfirst.net, which makes it easy for consumers to choose their downtown and local businesses first, for shopping, eating and services,” said Town Center Associates Program Director Mara Dowdy. “Downtown First is an innovative initiative serving to promote both our wonderful, walkable downtown business districts, as well as their unique local businesses.”

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Through Allegheny Together, communities establish a business revitalization group that develops a vision for their business district. Allegheny Together also assists and encourages property owners and businesses to reinvest in traditional business districts by providing matching grants and low-cost financing. Eligible exterior activities include: façade improvements; streetscaping; business identification signage; awnings; and lighting that highlight architectural features and/or business signage. For additional information, visit www.alleghenytogether.com.

The Downtown First program and directory were developed by Town Center Associates in order to promote downtown business districts and local, independent businesses in the Pittsburgh region. Currently 22 business districts are participating in the Downtown First program. The Downtown First website, www.downtownfirst.net, provides a searchable directory of every business in the participating downtown business districts and is searchable by local, independent businesses. The Downtown First program is the first of its kind in the Pittsburgh region, and hopes to launch a movement to encourage consumers to support our community business districts and local, independent businesses.

Sustainable Pittsburgh affects decision-making in the Pittsburgh region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental quality bringing sustainable solutions to communities and businesses. For information, visit www.sustainablepittsburgh.org.

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