GREEN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAMFOR INMATES, EX-OFFENDERS &

AT-RISK YOUNG ADULTS

American Correctional Association

Bobby Clark, President

Sustainable Business VenturesFebruary 2011

Copyright 2011, Sustainable Business Ventures, Lexington, KY

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Our entrepreneur curriculum emphasizes the concept of Triple Bottom Line, which addresses people, planet and profit:

1. the impact or bottom-line of a business has on society and the community (people);

2. the impact or economic bottom-line on the environment (planet); and

3. every organization must focus on the economic bottom-line (profit).

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Green Programs Managed

►Bluegrass Goes Green – Bluegrass Area Development District

►Green Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (GEL-IN) - Lincoln Trail Area Development District

►Green Entrepreneur Program -Bluegrass Area Development District

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Scenes from Bluegrass Goes Green

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Scenes from GEL-IN

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Scenes from Bluegrass Entrepreneur Program

PEP Venture Capital Pitch Day

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PEP Business Plan Competition & Graduation June 10-11, 2010

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Innovative Business Model: Primary Goals

► Prisoner reentry to community using Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) with “green” training, education, job development and/or start-up business

► Cost savings to state and local governments associated with reduced recidivism and incarceration expenses

► To secure livable wages and increased self-sufficiency through employment and/or self-employment (i.e., business development) for ex-offenders reentering community.

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Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)

► IDAs are savings accounts for low and moderate income individuals. Individuals can save up to $2,000 which can get matched by local programs that could be $2,000, $4,000, $6,000, $8,000 or more.

► The federal Assets for Independence Act program is typically matched with some combination of corporate and/or philanthropic funds and local and/or state funds.

► IDAs can be used for buying homes, vocational/post-secondary education and small business startup

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Process Objectives

► Demonstrate that low-and moderate-skill „green‟ jobs and business development opportunities (e.g., energy efficiency, weatherization, building retrofit component parts, manufacturing, landscaping, and solar installation, etc.) are relevant to ex-offender populations using tested and newly developed training strategies.

► Match existing „green‟ and other businesses, including for profit and non-profit, with appropriate training and support systems for ex-offenders, as employees, using tested and newly developed strategies.

► Demonstrate that „green‟ and other job training and business plan development can take place within prison facilities as strategies for prisoner reentry to community.

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Process Objectives - continued

► Match appropriate existing community-based IDA programs with correctional facilities and programs to develop a special prisoner reentry component

► Demonstrate that prisoner reentry populations can be part of selected workforce development and/or community economic development strategies, targeting “green” business opportunities

► We presented this Business Model to the Corporation for Enterprise Development Conference September 22, 2010 with two CFED Innovative Idea Engineers Chuck Shannon and Leonard McCollum

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Making the Case with Correctional Programs

►“Green” business and jobs are relevant to prisoner reentry

►that IDAs are important tools for personal investment in reentry

►that “green” training and IDAs complement existing training and counseling programs

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Relevance of “Green” to Prisoner Reentry

►Low- and moderate-technology/skill job and business opportunities

►Apprenticeship programs complemented with „green‟ training and certification

►Growth of prison industries prepares ex-offenders for start-up business and job opportunities

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Relevance of „Green‟ to Prisoner Reentry: Low & Moderate Skills in

Each Sector

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Examples of Low & Moderate Skill „Green‟ Jobs and

Businesses ►Weatherization

►Building retrofit component parts

►Manufacturing

►Landscaping

►Solar panel assembly and installation

►Plumbing & electrical helpers and apprentices

►Cleaning business using environmentally friendly products

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Relevance of „Green‟ Component of Business Model to Prisoner

Reentry

• Job training and business planning can start in

prison (classroom & actual work)

• Apprenticeship programs can be complemented

with ‘green’ training and certification

• Community-based transition programs can align

with workforce development programs

• ‘Green’ job growth faster than other jobs

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Range of „Green‟ Training

Programs and TechnicalAssistance

►Triple Bottom Line (comprehensive)

People, Planet & Profit

►Customized for individual institutions

►Training that links prison industries/training with for profit and nonprofit “green” needs

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American Correctional Association Adoption of „Green‟

Standard: August 1, 2010

►Standard: The program shall demonstrate that it has examined, and implemented, where appropriate, strategies that promote recycling, energy and water conservation, pollution reduction and utilization of renewable energy alternatives.

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Green Job Skills Training -Examples

► Skills training for growing organic vegetables grown and reduces the cost of purchases for food in the prison

► Inmates are taught benefits of composting and Vermiculture (worms) – reduces disposal costs

► Bicycle repair program donates bikes to low-income children in the community

► Solar panel installation – cleaning & maintenance

► Cleaning prisons using environmentally friendly cleaning products (growing public consciousness for home & business)

► Training on Hydroponics/Aquaculture and Aquaponics (growing vegetables and shrimp)

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Bluegrass Entrepreneur & Employment Program

► The Bluegrass Workforce Investment Board (WIB), Kentucky Department of Corrections officials and non-profits Sustainable Business Ventures and Jubilee Jobs have developed a plan and seeking funding to pilot an entrepreneur program at Blackburn Correction Complex, a minimum security prison in Lexington, KY.

► The Bluegrass WIB serves low-income, long-term unemployed and other target groups in the Workforce Investment Act. Ex-offenders are one of the hardest to serve groups because of their criminal records.

► “Entrepreneurs control their future. It's the American dream. Training ex-offenders to be entrepreneurs is probably the best way to prevent them from re-offending. It puts them in control of their future,” says Lenny Stoltz, Executive Director of the Bluegrass WIB.

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Comments from Kentucky► “We are pleased to support an innovative

program that teaches inmates and ex-offenders how to start their own businesses, in order for them to be able to be successful in their lives after incarceration. We expect their success will also impact their rate of recidivism in a positive manner,”said Kentucky Department of Corrections Commissioner LaDonna H. Thompson

► “Entrepreneurs control their future. It's the American dream. Training ex-offenders to be entrepreneurs is probably the best way to prevent them from re-offending. It puts them in control of their future,” says Lenny Stoltz, Executive Director of the Bluegrass WIB.

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More information

Bobby Clark, President

Sustainable Business VenturesPO Box 1367

Lexington, KY 40588-1367

859-227-0263

www.kystudentventures.orgsbvclark@gmail.com