Our Story
The idea for the Iowa Sustainable Business Association (ISBA) was born in a white house, a very large White House. A series of fortuitous circumstances landed three business owners from Iowa in Washington, DC in June of 2012 at a day-long summit held by The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC).
ABSC gathered a group of big names and small business owners together, upholding the promise to give its members’ access to the government and policy makers to voice real concerns. We had the chance to pick the brains (and chewed off the ears’) of 7 cabinet members and over 30 key policy makers. We attended panels on climate change, sustainable and economic development, toxic chemical reform, health care, and more. We collaborated with like minded individuals and business executives, agreeing that success should be measured by a triple bottom line: profit, people and the environment.
Being in Washington was inspiring and the energy was that of collaboration. It was refreshing to see acknowledgement of the big problems facing our economy by members of the Obama administration. Those responsible for legislation and policies were reaching out to those who are affected most by them - innovative, intelligent owners of successful and sustainable businesses to help solve the problems of a suffering economy.
The fire for starting ISBA was started by the energy we experienced in Washington and our core values closely relate to those of ASBC. We experienced the power of the collective and were inspired to create a similar organization in our home state. We see many opportunities for positive change in Iowa, so we have gathered a passionate group of people dedicated to the betterment of sustainable business practices, social prosperity and environmental protection.