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Supporting Local Businesses
Supporting your local small businesses is a great a way to support the economy within your community. Spending your money at these establishments helps to keep your tax dollars local which can contribute to community investment projects such as health services, education, and the development of new parks and other green spaces.
The other great benefit to shopping locally is that it helps to protect the environment. Products that are made locally with locally sourced materials reduce air pollution by limiting transportation miles from trucks, boats, and planes. According to the EPA, the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is the transportation sector. Limiting the miles traveled for a product to get to you will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that can be attributed to your purchases.
Pick Tennessee Products is a state program that provides Tennesseans with information about hundreds of homegrown and homemade products including a variety of foods, flowers, trees, and various artisan products. Through the support of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the program currently lists more than 2,000 farmers with over 10,000 items. Pick Tennessee Products can also help you find events and attractions such as fairs, festivals, and wineries that you can enjoy while supporting local businesses at the same time. For example, there are 159 farmers markets registered with the program.
The Pick Tennessee mobile app helps you live local on the go. The easy-to-use app helps consumers find farms, farmers markets, restaurants and fun closest to you, wherever you are. The free app also keeps track of your favorites and links you to seasonal recipes, handy tips, and fun facts as well as the full Pick Tennessee Products website.
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TDEC and Clean Memphis hosted a webinar on August 25, "A Case for Compost". The webinar covered the many benefits and uses of compost. There were also many projects shared that have benefited from the use of compost. Check out the great discussion from our wonderful speakers and more information in the video recording above!
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On August 31, our office hosted a Tennessee Sustainable Spirits (TNSS) Workshop and New Member Ceremony. TNSS program administrator, Mark Valencia presented on the program, and then Mark Toda with Kentucky's Resource Center for Environmental Sustainability led a workshop on Value Stream Mapping. After the workshop, we welcomed new members into the program and concluded with a tour of Jackalope Brewing.
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On Saturday, September 24, 2022, join the thousands of volunteers on National Public Lands Day (NPLD) who generously give their time to help restore and improve public lands around the country. Participate in trail maintenance projects, park and river clean ups, tree planting activities, invasive species removal projects, as well as hikes and other fun activities throughout the country.
Our Tennessee State Parks (TSP) are home some of the most beautiful land in our state. Our park staff work hard to protect this land and make it available to the public to enjoy for free every day of the year. TSP is continually looking for opportunities to secure additional land for public use. During Fiscal Year 2021-2022, TSP acquired 931 acres to add to our state parks and natural areas. Acquisitions included 150 acres at Roan Mountain, 239 acres to expand the Virgin Falls State Natural Area and 358 acres to connect the Cumberland Trail and Piney Falls State Natural Area.
To celebrate NPLD, TSP will host volunteer work events Sept. 16-25 as part of Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee’s Tennessee Serves program. To find an event close to you, please visit their website for information.
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Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
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TDEC’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) wants to share as much information with you as we can to empower and enable your small business to comply with environmental regulations. Two ways we share information is through our quarterly newsletter and social media pages.
- TN Small Biz Buzz Newsletter – contains information like TDEC-related trainings for permit and overall general compliance, TDEC grant and funding opportunities, answers to hot topic questions, and more! Click here to sign up for SBEAP’s quarterly newsletter.
- TN Small Biz Buzz on Facebook and Twitter – posts information applicable to your small business, such as reporting deadlines for annual reports, training opportunities, relevant webinars, compliance tips and tricks, and more!
If you want to learn more about a particular topic or have specific questions, contact us. Call our hotline number (800-734-3619) which is staffed during normal business hours or send us an email at bgSBEAP@tn.gov. Let us help your small business get in compliance with environmental regulations.
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Conferences/Workshops/Training Opportunities
October 19-21, 2022
October 24-26, 2022
November 7-9, 2022
Stay tuned as we receive updates about upcoming conferences.
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