Environmental Business Cluster Receives Citi Foundation Grant through the Citi Community Scholar Intern Program



The Environmental Business Cluster (EBC) of San Jose, CA, received a grant from Citi Foundation to employ an intern for the summer to help develop their green fleet design program, the Electronic Transportation Development Center. "This grant strengthens our ability to reach out and partner with other local community groups and will greatly enhance our ability to increase new 'green' small business job opportunities in the community, while also providing a college student with valuable experience in the environmental sector," says Jim Robbins, Executive Director of the EBC.

Through the Citi Community Scholar Intern Program (CSIP), the Citi Foundation presented a total of $630,000 in grants this year to 63 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. CSIP grants are awarded on a competitive basis with the highest priority given to organizations that can offer interns a valuable learning experience in the field of community development.

"This program recognizes the critical role community development plays in helping to revitalize underserved neighborhoods," said Leslie Meek, Vice President and Senior Program Officer of the Citi Foundation. "Through it, we hope to provide additional support to nonprofit organizations to help them reach their goals, while giving college students a meaningful work experience and insights into careers in the nonprofit sector." The Citi Foundation is a philanthropic arm of New York-based Citi, a global financial services company. Additional information can be found at http://www.citigroupfoundation.com/.

The Environmental Business Cluster combines business incubation best practices with extensive client mentoring and an industry-recognized start-up program for environmental entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 1994, the incubator has helped 145 companies commercialize environmental technology and create clean-tech jobs. In partnership with the City of San Jose and San Jose State University, the EBC has become the largest private clean energy commercialization center in the United States for start-up companies. In early May, the EBC received the National Business Incubation Association's 2008 Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year award at NBIA's 22nd International Conference on Business Incubation in San Antonio, TX. The Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year award is NBIA's most prestigious honor, recognizing overall excellence in business incubation, and is awarded to the nation's top incubator.

Contact:    

Jim Robbins     

Executive Director    

Environmental Business Cluster

San Jose, CA     

(408) 938-3921    

jarobbins@aol.com

www.environmentalcluster.org





Environmental Business Cluster Receives Citi Foundation Grant through the Citi Community Scholar Intern Program