Economic Vitality

As an extension of our foundational mission to increase multi-generational opportunities that contribute to economic vitality, the Cultivate Collective Hub is bringing together a network of ten expert partners to launch the Green Business Institute (GBI) to address systemic barriers to wealth generation by developing a minority-led green business ecosystem among Black and Brown contractors, green sector businesses, local businesses and residents, and an international leader in green building certification. 

Once launched, the Green Business Institute will ensure our constituents’ inclusive access to the economic benefits resulting from the clean energy economy’s growth. 

Building on the momentum of Illinois’ groundbreaking 2021 green economy legislation and Chicago’s Climate Action Plan, the Cultivate Collective will serve as a conduit for preparing a minority workforce to take advantage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), and in turn, generate local wealth that can revitalize the Southwest side in general — and LeClaire Courts in particular.

The vast majority of jobs within our region are held by employees living outside of the community. Only 5% of all employees live in the community, primarily due to misalignment among educational attainment, job requirements and local opportunities. 

Cultivate Collective’s proposed Green Business Institute will bring needed workforce and entrepreneurial training to community residents that will not just improve employment rates, but also provide the local workforce with specific training to access jobs in the growing green economy and clean technologies.

A range of integrated services and programs enabling living-wage career pathways, ranging from apprenticeship and workforce trainings to Business Academy and Contractor Accelerator classes, will create a seamless pathway for individuals and businesses.

The Green Business Institute will cultivate:

  • Discovery about sustainability, green jobs, and green sector business opportunities among the diverse residents of Chicago’s southwest side; career pathways for diverse candidates to meet the forecasted exponential growth of jobs in the sector;
  • Diversity in the ownership of green sector businesses, with an emphasis on minority- and women-led businesses, positioning them to generate wealth as the green economy expands in response to significant federal, state, and city investments over the next decade and beyond;
  • A local green business ecosystem that supports Black and Brown contractors, green enabling businesses, job candidates, nonprofits, and others, with the goal of creating greater business opportunities, livable wage jobs, career pathways, and wealth-generating vehicles.

The Green Business Institute will harness the business opportunity that lies at the intersection of industry (green construction and green sector-enabling business-es), population (with a focus on Black and Brown communities), and place (business and job creation on the southwest side).

While we believe the business opportunity zone lies at the convergence of this intersection, the collaborative will also support business and job creation opportunities within each of the three individual realms.

Green Business Institute Value Proposition

The Green Business Institute creates a minority-led, green business ecosystem among Black and Brown contractors, green sector businesses, local business- es and residents, and an international leader in green building certification to create and grow minority-owned businesses with the capabilities to meet green sector growth and associated workforce development. 

We believe that the clearest pathway to community wealth generation is through the expansion of Black- and Brown-owned businesses in this growth sector, as they have significant potential not only to expand economic opportunities for their business, but also represent the greatest opportunity for employing and investing in a diverse workforce by creating livable wage jobs with career pathways.

Green Business Institute Management & Partner Organizations

The Green Business Institute has established an integrated operating model that leverages the expertise, operations, and resources of its ten expert partners to create impact. 

Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) will serve as lead operator, and will administer business activities for the Institute, including providing day-to-day management, coordinating business activities, refining training program offerings, and overseeing site logistics. GSDC will also support collaboration across partners by identifying emerging opportunities and developing Hub offerings in response.

The success of the Institute will be built upon the strong, collaborative foundation that already exists among several of the Institute’s partners. With a shared vision and joint operating principles, the ten organizations described below are positioned to make a collective impact with the strong operating support of GSDC.

Green Business Institute Services

The Green Business Institute will create a suite of services focused on the following pathways:

  • New business creation for diverse entrants into green contracting and other green-enabling businesses;
  • Transition support for existing contractors of color to leverage the growth opportunities in the green sector, including professional certifications such as Phius Certified Consultant and Phius Certified Builder;
  • Workforce training in the trades, to provide access to livable wage jobs for community residents and to meet the workforce demand for the businesses created and transitioned above.

From building foundational knowledge to supporting access to livable wages to accessing capital, the Green Business Institute ecosystem has the spectrum of services — and partners to deliver — to address sector barriers and fully leverage opportunities for diverse construction businesses and workforce.

Green Business Institute Impact

The Green Business Institute will contribute to the growth and evolution of significant capital investments on Chicago’s southwest side over the next decade and beyond, and multiply its impact by increasing the number of M/W/DBE green-ready businesses prepared to meet the demand for green construction across the Chicago region.

The Green Business Institute will position Black and Hispanic contractors to harnness business growth opportunities beyond business start-up and development support. 

A key impact of the Institute’s work will be in positioning contractors to access working capital and allow them to scale. A complete listing of the partners and their programs are available in our business plan.