Teri Kent, Founder/Program Manager, Better World Betty and Commercial Outreach Coordinator, joins Les Sinclair to talk about the Better Business Challenge Awards. They’re being presented on Thursday at The Paramount Theater.

You’re invited to walk the green carpet this Thursday night, June 19th at the Paramount Theater 5:30pm-8pm to celebrate businesses who have stepped up their sustainability game. The Better Business Challenge will culminate a 10-month long effort to bring awareness to environmental stewardship and cost-savings opportunities for energy efficiency, water/waste/transportation reduction strategies in the business community.

WHAT: Better Business Challenge Awards Night – This Oscars-style event is a celebration of sustainability; door prizes including Skybar gift certificates and Paramount tickets; hors d’ouevres, wine, and New Belgium beer on tap; live music by Downbeat Project; Brad Savage of 1061 the Corner, emcee; winners will be unveiled. Come support businesses who have stepped up and made a deeper commitment to sustainability!

WHEN: Thursday, June 19th, 2014 5:30 to 8pm

WHERE: The Paramount Theater (After party at Commonwealth Sky Bar), downtown Charlottesville

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Purchase your tickets at The Paramount box office or online at TheParamount.net. All members of the community are invited.

Nearly 80 area businesses have been in competition since September 2013 to increase their efficiency and sustainability as well as earn recognition for their sustainability efforts by looking at six key areas of their daily operations: energy, water, transportation, waste, purchasing and leadership! At the heart of the Challenge was the online “Scorecard” which businesses used to decide which action items they would strive to complete. Over 250 people attended six Lunch n’ Learn workshops and a “sustainability innovation pitch night” throughout the contest. The following is a list of award winners which will be given, 10 of which were designed by a local manufacturer and B-corporation, Rivanna Natural Designs.

2014 AWARD WINNERS (listed in order which they will be given at Awards Night)

Stridemaker Award Greatest leap forward in a single category

Ripple Effect Winner Excellence in environmental stewardship, as shown through a strong dedication to reaching a wider audience

Biggest “Loser” (waste reduction) Recognizes the larges reduction of waste achieved based on the points earned on the Waste Scorecard

Kilowatt Crackdown Winner (2) Recognizes the largest reduction in energy use based on the points earned on the Energy Scorecard

Top Innovators (2) Businesses that stands out for ingenuity or is not afraid to think outside the box (small business and institution)

Green Leader Demonstrates outstanding leadership in the business community with implementing high-impact measures

Challenge Mini-grant Winners recipients qualified as a business/business owner in need of financial assistance and received energy efficient and/or eco-friendly products or services