Environmentally sensitive practices are becoming increasingly important for many businesses and restaurant franchising is no exception. The environment is a hot topic and the public is becoming more vocal about what they expect from retailers, manufacturers and service providers alike. Environmental issues which are foremost in the public’s mind, and which restaurant franchises must now take into account, include energy conservation, recycling and organic locally sourced food.
In Britain, a government sponsored “Green Achiever Scheme” has been created to enable companies to demonstrate their environmentally friendly credentials to suppliers, customers and other bodies interested in green business. In the United States, federal tax incentives and recycling programs have been set up to facilitate those companies wanting to improve their green credentials. The number of restaurant franchises opting into such schemes in both countries has been steadily growing, as business owners take note of the public’s demands when it comes to the environment.
The government’s role in society is to support it and make it better as time progresses. When it comes to the question: Is my company eligible for government grants?
Ask yourself this: Will my venture help the government attain this goal? Will my project make society better? The business does not necessarily have to invent the internet or cure a disease (although that does help and receives massive funding when viable), but it can do simple things such as provide employment to a community in need, which can make an improvement in the lives of many of society’s members.
Certain industries are beneficial to society by nature and they are as follows:
photo credit: Kevin Krejci
It looks like investing for green now has a double meaning.
A couple of years ago, if you would have asked someone about “green investing” they probably would have told you that you were just trying to make some cash. Today, “green investing” not only means investing to make money, but to invest your money in an environmentally friendly way.
So, how can you get in on this type of investing? Aside from investing in mutual funds that specialize in these sorts of companies, it seems like there’s really one of two ways for you to invest your hard earned money “greenly”:
photo credit: kevindooley
Grants come in a wide array of sizes, for a broad array of purposes, from a myriad of sources. While most grant information rests at the Federal level, there are plenty of other sources of funding for a business startup out there. This article will focus on getting grants from your local community.
First, there are sound reasons for your local chamber of commerce and better business bureau to offer grants for businesses to start up – businesses employ people, and boosting the local job market is one of the important things your city government does. Even if your business just employs two part time shipping clerks, it still makes sense for your local business development center to host a grant program to help new businesses start out.
photo credit: Erik Charlton
The government is now making an extensive drive of promoting the use of alternative fuels specifically the biodiesel. The government and the private sectors alike are now working hand and hand to make the move to alternative fuels realizable. Both have their own contributions in the development of the alternative fuels. Most of their projects are focused on the developments of the biodiesel and other alternative fuel technologies. But with the lack of information and cooperation from the ordinary people, these projects are moving at slower paces. They need the help of the people in order to see some lights in their projects for their success lies on the people as users and makers of the needed resources. And to attract more people to support the project, the government is giving grants such as the biodiesel grant to all the supporters of the project.
photo credit: angela7dreams
Green investing is growing up. Previously the province of a small number of investors who chased an even smaller number of companies, the market for environmental technology has expanded dramatically in recent years. And it has captured investors’ wallet share along the way. Inflows into green funds totaled $766 million for the year ending May 31, according to Morningstar, compared with $37 million in net outflows from religious funds over same time period. (Morningstar tracks these two subcategories under the umbrella of socially responsible investing, or SRI, funds). “The interest has turned from ‘maybe I’ll dabble in this’ to ‘this is an asset class I should include in my portfolio,’” says Jerry Moskowitz, president of FTSE Americas.
