We envision a network of vibrant local economies and caring communities that are based on renewable resources and clean, efficient practices and that lead to a healthy environment, rewarding employment, and a high quality of life.

To foster that vision, we will provide education and technical assistance to help businesses, organizations, and individuals in Montana adopt sustnable practices that protect and enhance the environment, the region’s economy, and our local communities.

In this role, we will work to:
• Develop greater community awareness and acceptance of sustainable business and consumption practices;

• Increase the number of existing business and organizations in the Missoula area committed to sustainable business practices, making these practices the norm;

• Raise the level of sustainable business practices used by SBC members and others in the community;

• Foster the creation of new sustainable businesses and organizations in the Missoula area;

• And improve community support and patronage of SBC members and local sustainable businesses, making sustainable purchasing the norm. 

Core Values

• Working together to bring our vision of sustainability to life.
• Not being bound by convention in our search for sustainable opportunities and in the pursuit of our vision.
• Being accountable for all our actions.
• Life long learning for our employees, our customers, the public and ourselves.
• Educating business people about their role and responsibility in sustaining the earth.
• Educating consumers about the power of their choices and their role and responsibility in sustaining the earth.
• Creating a sustainable work environment by honoring, respecting, recognizing, and celebrating the fullest potential of each employee.
• Fostering mutually beneficial interactions with our customers or clients.
• Striving to continuously improve our environmental and social performance.

In all " Sustainable Business Council" activities, we commit to:
• Open communication and full disclosure about the operations of the Council.
• Inclusive, participatory, democratic processes.
• Considering everyone as a potential ally.
• Honoring all cultures and celebrating diversity.
• Having Fun!

Founded in 2002, the Sustainable Business Council -Missoula Area (SBC) is an outgrowth of the "Spirit, Commerce and Sustainability" conference held in September  of 2000.  The conference hosted several keynote speakers iuding Paul Hawken, Alan Atkinson, and Janine Benyus.  Inspired by their words, business owners, investors, non-profit organizations, employees, and interested citizens continued to meet after the conference and eventually formed an organizing committee for the SBC.  The goal was to create a network of sustainable businesses in the Missoula area to encourage more businesses to adopt sustainable business practices and more consumers to support sustainable businesses.

Our organizing committee gathered feedback to gauge the interest and needs of local businesses via a focus group consisting of two-dozen influential Missoula business owners and a survey of 850 randomly selected Missoula-area businesses.  Based on this feedback, a vision, a mission, core values statements, and by-laws were developed.  Initially we were organized as an autonomous project under the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center’s 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit umbrella.

With the key organizing pieces in place, we held our kick-off meeting on February 28th, 2002.  Thirty businesses and two individuals joined the SBC that night and that meeting marked the beginning of our bi-monthly Sustainable Lecture series and member meetings.  Between inception and 2007, membership grew to over 100 members solely via word of mouth and the strength of our programs, which have progressively increased in quantity and quality over the years.

Early in 2006, our board initiated an extensive strategic planning process to reassess and clarify our strategic direction and address infrastructure needs to accommodate the growth. The new startegic plan was adopted in February 2007 and includes plans to file for independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit stat

* Think Local, Buy Local is a grassroots campaign dedicated to preserving the unique character of our community through the promotion of locally-owned businesses.  By supporting independent, one-of-a-kind businesses you help maintain the special history and culture of Missoula while investing in our neighborhoods and local economy.

Through shopping at locally-owned, independent businesses: 
* You bolster our economic base since local businesses are more likely to use other local services and products.

*  You keep more tax dollars in our community to support our schools, parks, police, and other services.

*  You support businesses that provide a large share of jobs in our community and are more invested in Missoula’s future.

*  You ensure a solid foundation for our nonprofit organizations because they receive a majority of their donations from locally-owned businesses.

*  You protect the beauty and natural resources of our community.  Our local stores help sustain vibrant, compact, and walkable shopping districts and conserve energy and resources by reducing the transportation costs of goods.
 
Finding a Locally-Owned Business
*  Think Local, Buy Local is an educational initiative of Missoula’s Sustainable Business Council designed to connect business and community and to highlight the economic benefits of buying locally.  To find a business that meets your shopping needs either look for our logo in the window of participating businesses or search our online Business Directory.