Sustainable Business Ventures - Green Entrepreneur Program. Presentation atthe American Correctional Association Winter Conference February 2, 2011 San Antonio TX

1. GREEN ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM
FOR INMATES, EX-OFFENDERS &
AT-RISK YOUNG ADULTS
American Correctional Association
Bobby Clark, President
Sustainable Business Ventures
February 2011
Copyright 2011, Sustainable Business Ventures, Lexington, KY

2. 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). 2

3. 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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4. Scenes from Bluegrass Goes Green
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5. Scenes from GEL-IN
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6. Scenes from
Bluegrass Entrepreneur Program
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7. PEP Venture Capital Pitch Day

8. PEP Business Plan Competition
& Graduation June 10-11, 2010
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9. 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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10. 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 10

11. 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. 11

12. 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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13. Making the Case with
Correctional Programs
► “Green” business and jobs are relevant to
prisoner reentry
► thatIDAs are important tools for personal
investment in reentry
► that“green” training and IDAs complement
existing training and counseling programs
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14. Relevance of “Green” to
Prisoner Reentry
► Low-and moderate-technology/skill job and
business opportunities
► Apprenticeship programs complemented
with „green‟ training and certification
► Growthof prison industries prepares ex-
offenders for start-up business and job
opportunities
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15. Relevance of „Green‟ to Prisoner
Reentry: Low & Moderate Skills in
Each Sector
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16. 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 16

17. 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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18. Range of „Green‟ Training
Programs and Technical
Assistance
► 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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19. 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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20. Green Job Skills Training -
Examples
► Skillstraining 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) 20

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24. 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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25. 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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26. More information
Bobby Clark, President
Sustainable Business Ventures
PO Box 1367
Lexington, KY 40588-1367
859-227-0263
www.kystudentventures.org
sbvclark@gmail.com
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