Small businesses: taking advantage of the stimulus package?

With the new administration and the financial crisis combined, building a sustainable business is more essential than ever before.

According to GreenBiz, "Heightened support from the Obama Administration and the new Congress on environmental issues, strong green elements in the proposed stimulus and anticipated regulatory changes are fueling optimism for green investment. In a survey conducted by Allianz Global Investors, they found:

78 percent of investors believe that the Obama Administration in its first year will produce more policy promoting business investment in the environment than the Bush Administration produced during its entire tenure
74 percent believe that the new Congress will more strongly support policy promoting business investment in environmental technology
97 percent believe that exploring alternative fuel sources remains important despite declining gas prices
91 percent believe that resolving environmental problems will be a major issue for years

In a recent post, The Gold Rush of our Generation, I commented on shaping an opportunity out of the "disruptive change in our era." Eco awareness, business sustainability, and “going green” is gaining momentum. Individuals and businesses from around the globe are responding to take action in pursuit of these changes. However, as a sustainability consultant working with small businesses, I have to ask,

Are you stimulus ready?
How are you positioned compared to competitors?
How prepared is your business to capture and synergize with the environmental business opportunities of policy?
What steps are you taking today to prepare you for the year(s) ahead?

Andrew L. Shapiro writes, "companies that stay ahead of policy developments and make smart choices can "outgreen" their competition as choice providers of expanding clean energy, technology, and infrastructure services. Many industries will be impacted, and those that play this hand well should be positioned as winners for the long term; those who don't may be forced to fold."