While national debates rage over which production methods will lead to a stronger, more sustainable environment, and while research and development teams struggle to produce the next revolutionary technology, it is on the local level that incredible progress is being made in advancing sustainability measures beyond rhetoric. City governments and grassroots activists are often the most obvious players, but there is a powerful—and perhaps unexpected— player in the green arena that is leading the charge in cutting emissions and conserving energy while boosting regional economies: the business community.

Chambers of commerce throughout the country are instituting green business recognition programs, working to attract clean industries, creating green jobs, and providing resources to local businesses to implement more sustainable practices. These activities are not wild expansions of their mission, but are es-sential to fulfilling it. Businesses that emit little emissions and consume fewer resources are the stronger, leaner and more agile businesses of America’s future and as the organizations that work to support economic development and improve local quality of life, many chambers of commerce have dedicated themselves to aiding in the success of green businesses.

To highlight this ingenuity and forward thinking, on October 6th, 2009, Partners hosted Enterprise at Home for Progress at Large: The Economics of Sustainability in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). For this event, Partners invited leaders from eight chambers of commerce throughout the country to Washington, D.C. to present innovative green programs that are both protecting the environment and improving bottom lines for local companies. The programs shared on Capitol Hill and 14 other stories of entrepreneurship and success are captured in this report.