Small Business Spotlight: YellowDog
YellowDog, a design, print and marketing studio in Denver’s Clayton neighborhood, completed their first-ever period product drive, collecting more than 3,500 donations.
The 2023 State of the Period report found that nearly one quarter of teens and one third of adults struggle to afford period products, resulting in missed school days, lost wages, stress and embarrassment that no one should have to experience. YellowDog Office Manager Sara Lou Klein saw this need and felt driven to help. She had previously worked with the organization Period Kits and felt strongly about equipping people who menstruate with these basic necessities. Community is one of YellowDog’s core values, and owners Jenny and Dan Mulligan threw their full support behind the initiative.
Small Business Spotlight: Premier Members Credit Union
Premier Members Credit Union (PMCU) is the first credit union in Colorado to be certified by the Colorado Green Business Network (CGBN). This certification recognizes PMCU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions, support of environmental sustainability and environmental justice organizations across the front range and their equitable business practices both internally and externally.
“Since 2019, our sustainability program has overseen a 17% decrease in the greenhouse gas intensity of PMCU buildings and increased purchase of renewable energy credits to over 20% of our total electricity consumption,” said Garrett Chappell, Senior Sustainability Specialist at PMCU. “We have also to re-invested over $40,000 to local grassroots organizations across all our member communities fighting to preserve Colorado’s environment and the well-being of our families and neighbors.”
We spoke with Garrett to learn more about the CGBN Certification and PMCU’s sustainability initiatives.
Small Business Spotlight: Green Spaces
B:CIVIC partnered with Denver-based Longer Tables to host a Community Dinner at Green Spaces. Our guests had the opportunity to browse the Marketplace, and we invite everyone to take a closer look at this innovative space. Read more in our interview with Green Spaces CEO Jevon Taylor below.
Small Business Spotlight: PEAK Resources
As part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, we sat down with Tom Brinegar, vice president and chief financial officer of PEAK Resources, to learn more about their employee benefits.
Small Business Spotlight: Ship Sunshine
Anna Costello founded Ship Sunshine because she loves to celebrate life’s special moments—big and small. Anna is a giver by nature and has infused this throughout her small business. Ship Sunshine creates hand-packed gift boxes filled with products from local and women-owned companies and packaged in eco-friendly recycled materials. Ship Sunshine further supports the community by engaging customers in the #SunshineItForward campaign. Customers can directly support local nonprofits by adding a donation to their order or purchasing a product that benefits One Colorado or Ray of Hope. Ray of Hope is an important cause to Ship Sunshine and Anna, as Anna’s dad passed away from cancer in 2009.