The City of Aspen and ACRA launch Colorado Green Business Network of Aspen

All Aspen businesses invited to join; three area businesses successfully completed pilot program

Aspen, CO -- The city of Aspen, in partnership with the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) and with the support of the state of Colorado, is proud to announce the launch of the Colorado Green Business Network of Aspen (CGBN of Aspen).

This free program empowers local businesses to adopt sustainable practices, reduce their environmental impact, and contribute to a greener future for Aspen. CGBN of Aspen offers technical assistance, recognition opportunities, and a supportive network to help businesses implement environmentally friendly practices.

“This program is a great way for us to support local businesses in their sustainability efforts, connect them to resources, and recognize businesses doing good work,” said Tessa Schreiner, city of Aspen’s sustainability manager. “Through the pilot program earlier this year, we learned what works well for our local context and where we can be most helpful – we're excited to work with more businesses in Aspen as the program expands.”

CGBN of Aspen is a regional partner of the statewide Colorado Green Business Network. All Colorado businesses can participate, but those within Aspen will work directly with the CGBN of Aspen team for personalized support.

A successful pilot program launched in 2023 and was completed in 2024, showcasing the program's effectiveness in Aspen. The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Mountain Flowers of Aspen, and Bosq, were recognized through the program this year and have made significant strides in sustainability through initiatives like composting, waste reduction, water conservation, and energy efficiency.

All three businesses received a bronze level in the state’s recognition program, demonstrating their leadership in sustainability efforts within Aspen. 

“CGBN of Aspen was very supportive,” said Barclay Dodge, Bosq’s award-winning owner and chef. “It focused our efforts on areas where we can make a difference and gave a strong sense of usage with waste, electricity, and gas.”

The launch of the CGBN of Aspen is an important milestone for the community following the Mountain IDEAL certification process. With the CGBN of Aspen program now open to the public, the city of Aspen and ACRA encourage all local businesses to join the CGBN of Aspen. 

In addition to being recognized both at the local and state level, the CGBN of Aspen offers benefits such as fostering connections and networks, providing free technical assistance and operational assessments, features on City of Aspen and ACRA websites, and connecting businesses to funding opportunities.

Businesses recognized through the program will also receive a Colorado Green Business Network recognition seal to display in print materials or for web usage. By participating, businesses can contribute to a thriving and sustainable Aspen by receiving support from the city in pursuing and implementing sustainable practices all while becoming leaders in environmental and social responsibility. The state will further recognize the Aspen businesses' participation in the pilot program with a statewide business recognition celebration in Denver, which is slated for Sept. 27, 2024.

Businesses who are interested in enrolling in CGBN of Aspen should register on GreenBiz Tracker or email [email protected], and the city’s climate team will then schedule a call to understand the businesses’ goals, what support they would like, and if they would like to seek recognition through the program. There is no cap on the number of businesses that can participate. To learn more and enroll in the program, please visit the city of Aspen website: www.aspen.gov/CGBNofAspen.

ACRA’s website has more information on the pilot program and insights into Aspen businesses' successes, which you can access here: https://aspenchamber.org/explore/sustainability/colorado-green-business-network-aspen.