WASHINGTON — On April 29, the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) commended Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) for introducing a Senate version of the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Assistance (SBESA) Act of 2010. This legislation recognizes the role of small businesses in creating jobs, promoting energy efficiency, providing environmental benefits and making retail and commercial areas more appealing by reauthorizing the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Small Business Tree Planting Program. Wyden was joined by original co-sponsors Sen. Kay Hagan (NC), Sen. Tom Harkin (IA), Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR), Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI) on his legislation.
“Renewal of the Small Business Tree Planting Program will bring jobs to hard-hit areas, while taking some of the financial heat off of municipalities and small businesses looking for ways to green and beautify their retail and commercial areas,” Wyden said. “I am happy to join Congressman (Kurt) Schrader in working to reinstate this program and offering a helping hand to America’s small businesses.”
The SBESA Act reauthorizes the SBA National Tree Planting Program at $50 million annually between fiscal years 2011 and 2015 to plant trees around retail storefronts, rental housing unit and other public areas. This program also requires a 25 percent match for any grant under the program, including in-kind contributions such as the cost or value of providing care and maintenance for a period of three years after planting. This match ensures that both private and community investments are made for the installation and care of trees funded by this program. Between 1991 and 1994, more than 18,000 green industry firms were employed to plant more than 23 million trees across the country through the SBA program.
A House version of the SBESA Act, H.R. 4509, was introduced by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) on Jan. 26, 2010. H.R. 4509 has bi-partisan support and a growing number of co-sponsors.
“Introduction of the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Assistance Act in the Senate demonstrates Senator Wyden’s understanding of an important message on the eve of Arbor Day: trees mean jobs,” said Bob Lyons, owner of Sunleaf Nursery, LLP in Madison, OH. “It is our hope that Senator Wyden’s bill will be considered this year so that our industry can act quickly to support job creation and tree planting initiatives across the country.”
“The U.S. green industry stands ready to deliver the National Small Business Tree Planting Program, and looks forward to partnering with government and local non-profit organizations to create private-sector job opportunities in local communities across the United States,” said Corey Connors, ANLA’s Director of Legislative Relations. “This program would allow industry businesses to create and sustain jobs while relieving the stresses on local municipal budgets that currently have no funding for developing their community’s tree canopy. It’s a win-win.”
