The Green Economy Workshop Series (offered through the Green Institute at Heartland Community College) is designed to educate and promote sustainable business practices.

The series is open to all Illinois-based businesses interested in greening their current workplace, promoting sustainability within the workforce and the community it serves and reducing its environmental footprint. Adopting green practices can not only increase efficiency which saves the company on operating costs, but also can increase revenue based on a positive consumer opinion of environmental stewardship. Sign up for all three workshops for only $180 ($90 after rebate*)!

GETTING READY TO GROW WITH THE GREEN ECONOMY

The green economy is expected to contribute billions of dollars and generate millions of jobs in the coming decades. Wondering how to tap into the emerging green sector? This course is designed to help participants understand the dynamics of the green economy and prepare themselves to grow with the emerging green sector.

Topics include:

• Developing green industries

• Turning existing assets and potential liabilities into opportunities

• Making existing products, processes and services more sustainable

• Understanding governmental policies and initiatives

This course is offered through the Delta Institute, a Chicago based non-profit that is dedicated to supporting the transformation to the green economy.

PROFDVLP 1461 Sec. A
Wednesday 7/28
8:00AM-12:00PM
HCC WDC Rm 1400
$90 ($45 after rebate)
(includes text & breakfast)

GO GREEN AND SAVE MONEY: FISCALLY SOUND GREEN BUSINESS PRACTICES

Save money and improve your organization’s environmental performance through green business practices.

Topics include:

• Greening the office

• Green purchasing

• Activity-based cost accounting

• Greening the supply chain

• Recycling

• Green cleaning/janitorial practices

Energy efficiency opportunities associated with common office functions, such as:

• Heating/air conditioning

• Electronic devices

• Appliances

• Lighting

This course is offered through the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, a division of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois.

PROFDVLP 1462 Sec. A
Wednesday 8/25
8:00AM-12:00PM
HCC ACEC Rm 2102
$90 ($45 after rebate)
(includes text & breakfast)

GREEN PERFORMANCE THROUGH WASTE MINIMIZATION

Improve your competitiveness through better materials use. Participants will learn how to identify process losses and potential efficiency improvements in packaging, industrial parts and facilities cleaning, fluids purification, water use minimization and purification, and construction activities.

Topics include:

• Best management practices and technologies to improve performance

• Pollution prevention

• Recycling

• Green process development

• Improving the value of by-products

This course is offered through the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, a division of the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois.

PROFDVLP 1463 Sec. A
Wednesday 9/22
8:00AM-12:00PM
HCC ACEC Rm 2102
$90 ($45 after rebate)
(includes text & breakfast)

*Receive a 50 percent rebate from the Green Workforce Training Program:

What is the Green Workforce Training (GWT) Program?

GWT is a reimbursement program, providing up to 50 percent of training costs back to employers when they pay for workers to go through training related to green workplace initiatives or services. GWT is funded through the DCEO-ARRA 2009 Workforce Investment Act Sector Based Initiative.

Which employers are eligible for reimbursement as part of the GWT Program?

Large, medium and small businesses, local governments, governmental agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and collective bargaining units funding training for currently employed workers.

For more information about rebates available through the Green Workforce Training Program, contact Rebecca Rossi at 309-268-8402 or Rebecca.Rossi@heartland.edu.

About the Green Institute:
The Green Institute provides education and information to businesses and residents about energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, retrocommissioning and other environmental technologies.

Despite positive results from the first quarter of 2010, McLean County foreclosure filings showed a depressing increase in the second quarter. Foreclosure filings rocketed up to 143 for the quarter – a full 83.3% increase over the same period in 2009. Looking at the first two quarters together, McLean County stands at 274 filings, higher than 2009 and just shy of 2008’s record total of 278 for the same period.

These results demonstrate the continued economic challenges persisting even as the country begins to flirt with economic recovery. As I have stated in the past, home foreclosures lag the overall economy in the sense that foreclosures follow job losses at a distance of some months. Foreclosures happening today are likely indicative of the job market from six to nine months in the past. Based on unemployment figures, I would expect to see a moderate-to-bad third quarter for foreclosures followed by a fairly-positive fourth. Overall, I predict that foreclosure filings will end 2010 just slightly below the 2009 figure.

Sources: McLean County Recorder’s Office, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Central Illinois business leader Larry Maschhoff has been selected to help launch the first operational phase of the McLean County Business Incubator, a joint initiative of the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area (EDC) and Illinois State University. Maschoff, who currently serves as chair of the EDC Board of Directors, will work part-time through the University’s department of Research and Sponsored Programs. The department has received $845,000 in federal funding for the incubator project.

“Our research indicates there is a strong market demand for a McLean County area incubator,” said EDC Chief Executive Officer Marty Vanags. “McLean County has fewer micro-businesses than average, and they are smaller than their equivalents elsewhere in the state or nation. In addition, the presence of two universities and community colleges is a strong asset, both as a potential source of expertise as well as a possible source of entrepreneurs.”

Once operational, the business incubator will serve as part of a network of business assistance programs, which will include Illinois State University-affiliated campus organizations that have economic development or research interests. Other regional and local organizations offering business services may assist clients through the incubator. The mission of the incubator is to assist aspiring entrepreneurs, existing small to medium-sized business owners and researchers with the potential to develop commercial enterprises.

Initially, Maschhoff will work as the incubator’s Business Incubator outreach manager, conducting a range of recruitment, marketing and course development activities toward a target date of delivering services beginning in September. If initial efforts confirm the need for a higher level of activity, Illinois State and the EDC will seek a facility for the incubator to provide more extensive services.

“We are very pleased that Mr. Maschhoff will join the University and work with the EDC to further develop the McLean County Business Incubator,” said Rodney Custer, associate vice president for Research, Graduate & International Studies. “His talent and long-standing knowledge of the Central Illinois business community will be a big asset as this project moves forward.”

Maschhoff currently works as a consultant, helping private businesses arrange financing and increase sales and profits. He also served as president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Illinois for 23 years.