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'A mindset for survival': how to help small businesses survive Covid-19

Anna Patton

December 17, 2020 |

Pioneers Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nicaragua

Small businesses in the global South were able to survive the past year of COVID-19 and the domino effect it had on the business community with the help of enterprise support organizations. In addition to financial help, organizations like TechnoServe provided help with operations, business planning, reworking disrupted supply chains, pivoting to new business plans and markets, as well as HR management. The organizations drew from lessons learned in previous times of economic uncertainty to help entrepreneurs become resilient.

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How A 24-Year-Old CEO Makes Sustainable Tees from Milk

Frank Sesno Dan Reed Eugenia Harvey

December 15, 2020 |

Planet Forward |

Broadcast TV Talk Show |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States

After witnessing milk going to waste on his uncle dairy’s farm in China, Robert Lou came up with the idea to turn the leftover milk into clothing. It takes five glasses of milk to produce one t-shirt and he’s sold over 3,000 of them since launching his company Mi Terro. He hopes to use 15 percent of the world’s food waste in 20 years to lower greenhouse gas emissions and supply income to farmers. He’s also piloting a new flexible packaging material out of grain products.

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Reusing, recycling, rethinking

Jessica Wolfrom

December 10, 2020 |

The Washington Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alexandria, Virginia

Mason & Greens is a zero-waste store that reduces environmental impact by selling package-free items, from shampoo bars to organic produce. Dry goods and the wines, oils, and kombucha on tap are bought with reusable containers and priced by the ounce, which reduces plastic waste and allows customers to buy only what they need. In addition to minimizing products' carbon footprints, the store has been profitable since it opened and the owners say that, while prices are initially higher for consumers, reusable products may be less expensive in the long run because they don’t have to be replaced as frequently.

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Minority businesses: Wounded by COVID, but key to inclusive revival

Tom Condon

December 07, 2020 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Connecticut

Efforts to support and financially help small businesses in Connecticut are being prioritized. In particular, Black and minority-owned businesses are typically most at-risk to fail and require the most help.

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An urban farm nourishes the poorest part of Philly as its growers fight to keep the land

Alfred Lubrano

November 24, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Life Do Grow Farm in Philadelphia, run by the nonprofit Urban Creators, is a two-acre plot that yields food needed to feed the community who might not be able to make ends meet. Since June, the farm has distributed 65,000 pounds of produce, along with free children’s meals. But the farm is also a community gathering space for artists and entrepreneurs. While the land’s lease runs out in 2022, the nonprofit hopes to own it and highlight it as a “reimagination of city land, a radical collaboration in the service of empowering Black and brown communities in North Central Philly,” said the farm manager.

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Online directory aims to help Black businesses thrive in nation's whitest state

Jordan Bailey

November 22, 2020 |

The Maine Monitor |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

An online directory is helping consumers find small, black-owned businesses in Maine. Black Owned Maine has highlighted businesses, providing examples of success for Black youth and has also provided grants for businesses seeking financial assistance.

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Crowdfunded solar puts Red Lake Nation on a path to energy sovereignty

Frank Jossi

November 13, 2020 |

Energy News Network |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Red Lake Indian Reservation, Minnesota

The Red Lake Nation in Minnesota is building a 240-kilowatt solar array on top of a workforce training center, which will generate about half of the building’s electricity. This project was financed through crowdfunding, where they raised $250,000 from religiously inclined microlenders. The goal: to allow the tribe to have energy sovereignty, create higher-paying jobs, and maintain a healthy environment.

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Norway's Wealth Tax Is Uncommon. Here's What America Could Learn From It.

Carly Stern

November 12, 2020 |

The Huffington Post |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Norway

To reduce income inequality, progressive U.S. senators look to Norway for ways to raise revenue by taxing those with the greatest capacity to pay. A wealth tax of 0.85% kicks in when individuals amass roughly $165,000 in personal wealth for individuals and $330,000 for couples. Data shows that individuals who own small businesses, which are counted as personal wealth, tend to invest in their companies and hire more employees to reduce their taxable wealth. Support for the system is generally high because of the services citizens get in return, such as free education, health care, and other social services.

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A Better Option For the Gig Economy

Juliet B. Schor

November 05, 2020 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada

Platform co-ops are providing a third option to the gig economy and traditional employment. Stocksy United is a photography cooperative which is owned by the independent contractors who are members of the platform coop. All major decisions are made through voting by photographers and each member benefits from the flexibility of being a contractor without the uncertainty typically associated with gig work.

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In a boon for the climate, philanthropists are making it rain for cleantech innovators

Adrienne Day

October 30, 2020 |

Grist |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Prime Coalition is financing clean tech startups and climate-focused technologies that often don’t get a lot of funding. These technologies can be expensive to build and don’t generate profits immediately. So far, the public charity has secured $89 million that it has given into 18 energy ventures. “What’s important here is that the climate crisis is such a large-scale problem that we need lots of different types of solutions,” says Sarah Kearney, founder of Prime Coalition, “and so we need to match up right-fit capital to each kind of solution.”

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