Overview:

The primary purpose of the Santa Cruz Green Center is to serve as a hub for green business, environmental groups, and the local environmental community in general.  The site would first require a multi-story, LEED-certified building, preferrably in a high-traffic/ high-visibility retail area of the city such as Downtown Pacific Ave.  The layout of this building would be as follows:  The first floor would contain a variety of green retail businesses, each renting a small space around the perimeter.  Such businesses would include eco-product gift shops, hemp-product stores, fair-trade imports, organic restaurant, fair-trade organic coffee shop, etc.),  The central area downstairs would have tables and chairs for the restaurant and coffee shops which could be removed for speakers, events, and local environmental group meetings.  Upstairs would be office space for environmental non-profit groups, environmental consultant groups, sustainable investment firms, small eco-publishers, etc.  All renters would network with one another, collectively make decisions, and collectively advertise the center.  There is a potential for collective ownership of the site by participants involved.
 
 

Course of Action:

1)  We must first find retailers, non-profits, and other green businesses interested in participating in this project.  There were a considerable number of green         businesses present at the San Francisco Green Festival, which could be contacted to determine interest.  It would be worthwile to set up a booth at the next Green Festival this fall to network with businesses, as well as other groups which could provide resources, information, or collaborations.  Local announcements will be needed to find participants in Santa Cruz.  Some ideas include placing notices/advertisements in the Sentinel, the Connection, the Metro, and the Good Times papers, in print and email newsletters of local environmental groups, and perhaps with the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union member newsletter.

2)  We must make preliminary inquiries about funding the project.  Sources include loans from the SCCCU, grants from foundations, state, and private sources, local investors (?)

3)  We must find a site.  This requires collaboration and approval from the city. If site does not already contain a building, architects must be contacted, and construciton estimates made.

4)  Once a site is selected, the investment funds must be directed towards its purchase.  It should be determined in whose name this transaction will take place.

5)  Once site is purchased and constructed or renovated appropriately, renters may move in.  From this point forward, the organization and decision-making should be colloectively managed by project participants through meetings of the tenants.

Note: Some of these steps may beyond the scope and capabilities of the Green Enterprise Initiative, and may require outside consultation.