Customer Stories
- Food Alliance
The Food Alliance is a non-profit organization promoting sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers who produce food in environmentally-friendly and socially responsible ways, and educating consumers and others in the food system about the benefits of sustainable agriculture. Food Alliance provides certification of its members throughout the food production and distribution process which ensures the end user that they are getting a product that has been produced and processed in a manner that stands up to rigorous environmental and community standards. - Holmgren Dairy
Holmgren Dairy is one of seven organic dairies in the Southern Oregon Coast's Coquille Valley. Organic dairy farming is based on a system that mimics natural ecosystems and maintains and replenishes the fertility of the soil. Organic milk is produced without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers on the land base, and animals are given no antibiotics or hormones. They support the local Coquille industry by providing access to capital and market research assistance, and their resources have provided key support to the Holmgren family as they expand their product line to meet growing demand. - In Harmony
Located in Bothell, Washington, In Harmony offers a range of organic-based landscaping services as an alternative to the chemical lawn, tree and shrub applications in landscape management. During their 11-year history, they have been successful in not only growing a successful business, but also in educating the public to the benefits of organic horticulture through presentations to colleges, homeowner associations, garden clubs, and professional organizations. - Methow Creamery
A locally-owned, family -operated organic dairy farm, located in Twisp, Washington. They provide fresh, quality produce to its consumers. Ron Vanderyacht, owner of Methow Creamery, is currently crop farming alfalfa and specialty grains, some of which is classified organic. - Organicare, Inc
Located in Portland, Oregon, Organicare, Inc. is an alternative lawn and tree care company that fertilizes with chicken manure, fishmeal, and other natural soil amendments instead of synthetic fertilizers and other compounds. The company's natural fertilizers don't break down in the soil or move into water as fast as the synthetic compounds do, so far less ends up in local waterways. - Raintree Nursery
Raintree Nursery, Inc. (RNI) promotes a triple bottom line approach by maintaining excellent relationships with its customers, employees, and the local community. They sell fruit trees, vines, and shrubs throughout the United States. Using a 'one size does not fit all' approach, RNI provides information on growing and climate needs so that customers can make optimal selections for local climates, and successfully grow their own fruits at home. RNI is located in rural Morton, Washington, a community that suffers high unemployment and a depressed economy. By providing up to 35 jobs during the peak of the season, it makes a significant contribution to the local economy. A number of people have been employed by RNI for more than 15 years. Customers are very loyal because of the attention paid to customer service, quality of the plants, and a money-back guarantee. - Sustainable Harvest
Sustainable Harvest is the premier importer of sustainable coffee in the world. They purchase coffee from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Columbia, Peru, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Brazil on a fair trade basis, which means that they pay above normal wages and thereby guarantee themselves adequate supply as well as fair wages for the providers. President and Founder, Dave Griswold is a leader in the industry, moving coffee away from being a commodity traded solely on price to a place-based quality food, which can support the growers and the community where it is produced.
Education Stories - (back to top)
- The Oregon Natural Step
Founded on the principle that businesses and organizations can reduce their impact on the environment while enhancing their overall efficiency and effectiveness. Based in Portland, they provide educational opportunities for businesses and governmental agencies, including seminars, breakfast presentations, and workshops focusing on using the Natural Step framework. Although the Network is an autonomous organization, it is affiliated with The Natural Step International. - Trillium Charter School
Established in 2002, Trillium Charter School is one of the first charter schools in Portland, Oregon. Through Trillium's integrated curriculum, which incorporates their education philosophy centered on contextual teaching and learning, and constructivism, Trillium has established itself as a desirable option to traditional public schools. - Open Meadow
A private, non-profit, accredited, educational organization, serving students in sixth to twelfth grades. The program is designed to re-engage disconnected youth in their education, providing programs to help students transition smoothly from middle school to high school and from high school to college and career. The mission is of Open Meadow is to educate youth in small, relationship-based programs that emphasize personal responsibility, academics, and service to the community. All students work toward high school graduation.
Manufacturing Stories - (back to top)
- Biokleen
Located in Vancouver, Washington, Biokleen manufactures, packages, and wholesales a variety of environmentally-friendly household cleaning products ranging from soy-based toilet cleaners to tile cleaner made from grapefruit seed extract. The company started in founder Jim Rimer's house, when he became disillusioned with his employer, which made conventional cleaning products. His disillusionment led him to create products designed to replace some of the most toxic chemicals in a household with more effective and non-toxic products that leave hands, countertops, carpets, clothes, and even refrigerated vegetables cleaner and sanitary. - Paneltech International, LLC
Started in 1996, Paneltech International uses a new process to produce a durable paper-coated plywood product used for a range of commercial and construction applications. The company also makes a layering material that increases the strength of sheet veneer. They are committed to reducing waste and emissions and to providing good jobs in a depressed timber-dependent community. Paneltech's headquarters is located in Hoquiam, Washington.
Media Stories - (back to top)
- Celilo Group Media
Founded in 1999, Celilo Group Media is a leading green media firm with a mission of expanding the marketplace for sustainable products. From offices in Portland, Seattle, Oakland and St. Paul, Minn., the company produces regional green media under the EcoMetro brand, including coupon and resource guides Chinook Book, Blue Sky Guide and EcoMetro Guide and the online community Ecometro.com. The company also offers custom publishing, marketing and strategy consulting services to leading governments, non-profits and mission-driven corporations, particularly in the area of renewable energy.
Recycling Stories - (back to top)
- TriVitro Corporation
Located just outside Seattle, in Kent, Washington, the TriVitro Corporation has been converting low-value scrap glass from King County's recycling programs into a variety of useful, beautiful, and environmentally beneficial products for over 10 years. The company's products include abrasive blasting materials, water filtration media, art, craft and gift decorative glass, and terrazzo aggregate for floor tiles. Their products are available for both consumers and industry. - Wood and Yard Waste Composting
This company recycles yard waste and woody debris into a valuable soil amendment - compost. The regular use of compost also allows landowners to reduce the amount of fertilizers needed to maintain healthy plants and productive soil. In addition, compost reduces the volume of nutrient-rich runoff that flows into storm drains and into waterways, which adds to algae blooms and eutrophication in urban lakes, rivers and streams. By returning natural nutrients to the urban and suburban landscape rather than sending solid organic wastes to Portland's municipal landfill, 150 miles away, composting saves on hauling costs, reduces vehicular air pollution and highway deterioration.
Real Estate Stories - (back to top)
- China Beach Retreat Center
ShoreBank Pacific recently financed the purchase of a 3-bedroom Bed & Breakfast and retreat center along the tidal marshes of Baker Bay near Ilwaco, Washington. Built by a Finnish family in 1907, the B&B/retreat center was purchased and lovingly restored by a local couple that also runs the beautiful nearby historic Shelburne Inn. The retreat center and the inn are both beautiful historic buildings that highlight southwest Washington's fascinating history, delicious food and stunning natural beauty. Both are magnificent examples of high quality, place-centered tourism facilities that provide local employment opportunities and help diversify the local economic base. - Columbia Gorge Hotel
The Columbia Gorge Hotel is a boutique hotel nestled in Hood River, Oregon. The 40-room hotel was built in 1921, and is on the National Register of Historic places. The location is incredible, with sweeping views of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area and a 208-foot waterfall onsite. Due to its dramatic location and unique charm, the CGH has enjoyed a distinctive position in the market, with great appeal as a romantic getaway and serving as one of the premier wedding sites in the Pacific Northwest. - Graham Street Lofts
Hilary Mackenzie is the owner and operator of both Mackenzie Architecture and Graham Street Holdings LLC, which owns the firm's building. Mackenzie is an award winning, residential architect, specializing in sustainable construction and remodeling techniques. Her work is frequently found on the cover of Better Homes & Gardens, Oregon Home, in the Oregonian and Daily Journal of Commerce. The Graham Street Lofts will be the first commercial application of Perform Wall (recycled polystyrene concrete block) in the Portland area. Perform Wall has excellent heat and sound insulating value and is easy to build with. - Johnson Creek Commons
A low income housing project in SE Portland developed by a nonprofit building group. The project incorporated several elements of green design. Based on the project's success, the group has continued to use green construction methods. - Green Building Services
(GBS) is a spin-off of a division of Portland General Electric, created from PGE's successful Earth Advantage Program. The company provides LEED-certification approval as a contract service for the US Green Building Services, and is a consultant for developers and architects for green building and sustainable design, specializing in LEED certification. It has operated since 2000, and has built a solid foundation of current clients and successful projects, spanning from the Pacific Northwest to China. GBS is a nationally recognized leader in advancing green building and facility management practices. - Venerable Properties
Venerable focuses on historic renovations, environmentally challenged properties, and 'adaptive re-use', emphasizing mixed-use properties that benefit the local neighborhood. This award winning developer has converted a former brownfield site left behind when a lumber mill closed down into a beautiful new housing development at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Service Stories - (back to top)
- Environmental Engineering
An established regional civil and environmental engineering firm that is developing a new specialty: sustainable engineering. Their projects include a fish-friendly hydropower project, an innovative agricultural fish screen technology that will keep fish out of irrigation ditches; a product that has the potential to save significant amounts of industrial electricity used to compress air; and a brownfield remediation process. The company's president has a strong personal commitment to sustainability and is actively involved with a variety of high-level statewide environmental initiatives. - Index Solutions
Index Solutions (formerly NW CAD) provides engineering design services to large industrial manufactures. Services include: providing on-site engineers to be managed by the client; outsourced management of client projects and a limited amount of placement and training services.
Sustainable Energy Stories - (back to top)
- The Climate Trust is a non-profit organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The organization's mission is to promote climate change solutions by providing high-quality greenhouse gas offsets and advancing sound offset policy. They offer greenhouse gas offsets and climate change services for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Since its foundation in 1997, The Climate Trust has directed $8.8 million in funding into projects that are expected to offset nearly 2.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
- Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Located in Portland, Oregon, this not-for-profit organization was established in 1998 to further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind, and biomass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 1999, and has helped establish national standards for certification and trading. BEF's Green Tags are certified by Green-E and designated 'Climate Cool' by the Climate Neutral Network (having a net zero impact on the climate while also displacing fossil fuel generated electricity and approximately 1,400 pounds of CO2 emissions per Green Tag). - Pacific Ethanol
Headquartered in Sacramento, California, with an office in Portland, Oregon, Pacific Ethanol is a leader in producing low-carbon ethanol. Their state-of-the-art production practices allow them to produce ethanol that reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 40% compared to conventional gasoline. Pacific Ethanol is working to identify and develop other renewable fuel technologies, such as cellulose-based ethanol production and bio-diesel.
Wild Fish Stories - (back to top)
- Jessie's Ilwaco Fish Co.
A fish processing facility along Ilwaco, Washington's historic waterfront. The company provides natural resource-based, value-added processing jobs, and depends directly on the sustainable management of local maritime resources. Because its livelihood depends on the sustainable management of local seafood stocks, the owners and employees have a vested interest in actively promoting sound and sustainable management of local fisheries - McMillan Fisheries
McMillan Fisheries is run by a young couple local to the Ilwaco, Washington area. The loan provided for the buy out of a partner in an Alaska Sockeye fishing operation, and allowed the couple to retain the operation. The boat (F/V Second Chance) fishes in Bristol Bay, which is certified Sustainable by the Marine Resource Counsel. - FV Seven Daughters
The purpose of this loan is to finance replacement engines for this tuna boat, whose name is "FV Seven Daughters". The new engines are a more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient 4-cycle Diesel engines, which are replacing older technology 2-cycle Diesel engines. One of the partners, Robert Becker has 4 daughters, one of whom is the wife of the other partner, Karl Johnson. The Johnson's have 3 daughters; ergo the name. The partners reside in AK, but the boat regularly sells its tuna catch in Astoria and Ilwaco during the summer tuna season. - Wild Catch
Based in Bellingham, Washington, and seasonally in Anchorage and Western Alaska, Wildcatch started with the goal to improve the lives of independent fishers in Alaska. The idea of a direct connection between customers to the source of the fish, fishermen, and their communities, was born. Wildcatch, in cooperation with Native, Alaskan and Pacific Northwest fishers, harvests only "certified sustainable" wild seafood, free of antibiotics and synthetic colorings.
Other Categories - (back to top)
- Burley Bicycle Co-op
Located in Eugene, Oregon, is a worker owned cooperative that manufactures high quality bicycle products in a socially responsible and environmentally-friendly way. Its business helps promote alternative transportation, and its products are made to last and priced affordably. Its manufacturing methods promote the health and well-being of its members, communities, and customers. The business has been successfully managed democratically for 25 years. It distributes wealth to its member owners in a manner that is not generally available to the trade. These craftsmen also broaden their skill set by being actively involved in the management of the company. The organization's values are based on self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. - New Seasons Market
With over nine markets to serve you in the Portland metropolitan area, New Seasons focused on providing fresh, healthy, innovative, and local food. They are locally owned and operated, and buy directly from local vendors. A key element of their mission is to connect urban residents to rural farmers. - People's Food Co-op
A democratically managed community grocery store committed to providing fresh, organic, locally grown, and non-genetically modified foods. With membership on the rise, People's knew that they would soon outgrow their building, a 100 year-old house in Portland, Oregon, but wanted to expand in a socially responsible way. With a loan from SBP and member support, they renovated using Green Building techniques and became the first commercially zoned building in the U.S. to use"cob" (a mix of earth, sand and straw) as wall infill.