About the Ann Arbor Green Business Challenge
The Vision Behind the GBC
The Ann Arbor Green Business Challenge is all about turning big climate goals into everyday business practices. Launched in May 2024, this program is a joint effort between the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations and Ann Arbor SPARK. Together, they’ve created a way for local businesses to grow in sustainability, boost their operations, and be part of something bigger—real, community-wide climate action.
Advancing Ann Arbor's Climate Commitment
The A2 GBC plays a key role in supporting Ann Arbor’s A²Zero Carbon Neutrality Plan, which sets a bold goal: community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. While city operations are just one piece of the puzzle, local businesses have a big part to play. When businesses start taking meaningful steps toward sustainability, it creates a ripple effect—helping the entire city move forward, faster.
Building a Sustainability Ecosystem
The A2 GBC is more than a checklist, it’s about building a community. Here, businesses can connect, learn from one another, and find support as they navigate sustainability together. It’s a recognition that the biggest challenges require collaboration, not competition.
As the program grows, it will continue gathering insights, sharing success stories, and improving based on participant feedback. The goal? To create lasting change in Ann Arbor and inspire other communities to follow suit.
Join the Movement
No matter where your business is on its sustainability journey, just getting started or already leading the way, the A2 GBC offers a clear, supportive path to grow your impact. Join a community of Ann Arbor businesses working together for a greener, stronger future!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should a business participate in the GBC?
Why should a business participate in the GBC?Participating businesses are eligible to receive recognition, technical support, and awards for achieving substantive progress towards the objectives of the program. Participating in the program is also an important part of how Ann Arbor seeks to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. As independent leaders of the community, businesses are an indispensable part of this effort, and the GBC is an excellent way to visibly demonstrate that leadership.
What if I’m new to sustainability?
Will I score poorly? If you are new to sustainability, that is ok! The GBC is designed so that businesses of any experience level can participate and achieve recognition. Moreover, scoring poorly does not come with any penalties. This is a voluntary program, and the goal is to help Ann Arbor progress towards greater community resiliency and sustainability, rather than a high score. And we have a lot of technical support options available to help you grow and continue on your sustainability journey.
What kind of support is provided to those that participate in the GBC?
Participants in the GBC will be provided technical assistance in the form of guidance, resources, branding, and implementation support. Special coffee hours with local and regional businesses working on sustainability activities will also be provided to GBC participants. And GBC participants will be active participants in helping the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations shape our service offerings for local businesses.
How long is a GBC certification good for?
GBC certification is relevant for two year(s). To stay involved, businesses have to resubmit their paperwork at least every two years. However, if a business would like to be reclassified, they can submit their verification paperwork annually.
How do I demonstrate compliance with the GBC?
To submit materials for verification and compliance, please email [email protected] with the subject line “Green Business Challenge Submission: [Business Name]” where “Business Name” is the name of your business. Please label all attachments clearly to indicate what criteria it meets. The full compliance checklist can be found here.