Blandford Nature Center Named Sustainable Business of the Year

Blandford Nature Center was named the 2021 West Michigan Sustainable Business of the Year by the members of West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum last week at an outdoor award ceremony at LMCU Ballpark. 

The West Michigan Sustainable Business of the Year is selected annually by a vote of the forum membership, honoring the local company or institution that best represents the values of the triple-bottom line.  Blandford Nature Center was chosen from six leadership award honorees that were also recognized at the Eighth Annual Triple Bottom Line Bash on Thursday, October 15.  Earlier in the night, it had accepted the West Michigan Clean Water Leadership Award, which honors an organization for demonstrating a commitment to the proliferation of green stormwater infrastructure and other water quality stewardship practices on its property or among its stakeholders.  

“Blandford Nature Center is honored to be recognized by our peers in this way. Sustainability is the key to our collective future and we take that seriously,” said Jason Meyer, Blandford Nature Center President and CEO. “Nature Centers aren’t always seen as innovative, but that is one of our core values at Blandford. We’ve been striving for sustainability in a number of ways, including our recent decision to pursue the LIving Building Challenge at our future facility at The Highlands.” 

The LBC decision was first announced at the event, which hosted 230 local sustainability professionals and stakeholders.  For the past several years, Blandford Nature Center has been taking steps to bolster its sustainability outcomes, especially its use of green stormwater infrastructure.  Most notably, the center recently acquired and restored former golf course The Highlands, a partnership with the Land Conservancy of West Michigan.  

“We are proud to receive this award, but we must also recognize that Blandford Nature Center’s efforts to become more sustainable has been a collaborative effort between our organization, our large number of partners, our donors, and our visitors,” said Meyer.  “We’re all in this together.”

The Triple Bottom Line Bash is the signature event of the local sustainable business community. The Forum honored a total of six companies and institutions at the event:

• West Michigan Circular Economy Leadership Award – Meijer: Honors an organization- for successful efforts- to promote waste diversion- and the development of a circular economy in West Michigan- through excellence of internal programs and practices- or promotion of diversion within its clients or community.
• West Michigan Climate Leadership Award – City of Grand Rapids: Honors an organization for adopting practices that demonstrate climate leadership locally and within their industry.
• West Michigan Person of Color Led Sustainable Business of the Year Award – Jireh Metals: Honors a local Minority-owned organization that models a commitment to the triple-bottom line, embracing business practices that demonstrate environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social responsibility.
• West Michigan Corporate Social Responsibility Leadership Award – The Source: Honors an organization for successful efforts to promote corporate social responsibility, equity, empowerment and justice within its operations and the communities it serves.
• West Michigan Clean Water Award – Blandford Nature Center: Honors an organization for demonstrating a commitment to the proliferation of green stormwater infrastructure and other water quality stewardship practices on its property or among its stakeholders.
• West Michigan Triple Bottom Line Leadership Award – Creative Dining Services: Honors a local organization that models a commitment to the triple-bottom line, embracing business practices that demonstrate environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social responsibility.

The Forum also recognized three local professionals with Hall of Fame Induction and the Future Hall of Fame Award. 

• Eric DeLong, Deputy City Manager for the City of Grand Rapids, and Kenyatta Brame, Executive Vice President for Cascade Engineering, were inducted into the West Michigan Sustainable Business Hall of Fame.  The Sustainable Business Hall of Fame is a lifetime achievement award that recognizes extraordinary contributions to the growth of sustainable business in the West Michigan area over the course of a career.
• Alita Kelly, co-founder of the South East Market was recognized with the Future Sustainable Business Hall of Fame Award, which honors an emerging professional whose work deserves wider recognition.