Please welcome our newest Green Business partner: The Bay Conservancy

We’re proud to announce our latest Green Business partner – The Bay Park Conservancy

About The Bay Park Conservancy

The Bay is a community, city and park conservancy initiative that is conserving and transforming 53 acres of city-owned land into a signature public park that sits on Sarasota Bay. The Bay project will transform land that is mostly a parking lot into a blue and green oasis, celebrating nature and promoting environmental sustainability. From access to water, nature, wildlife, and stunning sunsets, The Bay is designed to be open, accessible, free, and welcoming to the full diversity of our community.

Green initiatives

As a green partner, The Bay is working to have a positive impact on our community. In addition to transforming the public park on Sarasota Bay, they are implementing programs to reduce impacts to the environment. The staff has created a green team that encourages all employees to suggest new conservation ideas. They recycle all paper and plastic and are even considering a composting program.

Working with the park’s partners is a key reason The Bay become a green business. Moving forward, plans are to work with vendors and businesses within the park to reduce single-use plastics and encourage more eco-friendly practices.

About the Green Business Partnership

The Green Business Partnership is open to all businesses in Sarasota County. Certified Green Business partners operate in an environmentally responsible manner. More than 250 businesses have earned certification. Program certification includes an on-site verification of reduction, reuse and conservation practices in:

Business operations;
Solid waste management;
Recycling; and
Energy and water consumption.

UF/IFAS Online Green Business Course

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County’s Waste Reduction program has added a new course to UF/IFAS Extension Online Learning: Green Business Partnership Best Management Practices (BMPs)

The “Green Business Partnership Best Management Practices (BMPs)” course is open for all businesses in Florida. Using the model of the Sarasota County Green Business Partnership, created in 2006, the course assists businesses with implementing green practices. A Sarasota County business that completes the application process will become a recognized Green Business Partner. To date, more than 250 businesses have earned certification in Sarasota County.