Oregon State University
EN-9: Community Partnerships

Chinook Book is a money-saving resource to promote shopping locally in the OSU area. Chinook Book selects businesses based on their ability to do business in a connected way. The businesses must treat their employers and suppliers well, minimize their environmental impact, and support the community that supports them. Chinook Book uses a set of standards and criteria that include third party certification and surveys to select merchants that include aspects of sustainability in their business. Oregon State works with Chinook Book to provide transportation options, recycling and energy resources for the user as well. http://chinookbook.net/

Energize Corvallis is a collaboration between the City of Corvallis, Corvallis Environmental Center, Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, The Resource Innovation Group, and Oregon State University Extension Service of Benton County. The goal is to encourage energy efficiency, control energy costs and help Corvallis residents and business utilize renewable energies. OSU has played a key roll in various Energize Corvallis programs including Campuses Take Charge and Energizers by doing direct marketing and outreach, connecting OSU interns with work opportunities (for academic credit) and funding specific programs. OSU faculty and staff have also served in a variety of advisory roles for Energize Corvallis and provided resources like meeting rooms, access to advertising and student lists, etc. More info at http://www.corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org/energize/

OSU is one of the leading partners in the the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition which is a network of hundreds of organizations and individuals in Corvallis, Oregon. It was formed in 2007 to bring together businesses, non-profits, faith communities, educational institutions, and government entities in the Corvallis area to accelerate the creation of a sustainable community - one that values environmental quality, social equity, and economic vitality. Participation in the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition is open to local organizations and individuals who support its vision, mission, goals and guiding objectives. http://sustainablecorvallis.org/ OSU's scope of involvement includes: - Staffing various committees and action teams, including having the OSU Sustainability Coordinator (who is also one of the Coalition's founders) serve on the Coalition Steering Committee, Executive Committee and Energy Action Team - Leadership of several action teams is coordinated by OSU staff and leverages university resources through these channels - On-campus projects have been conducted, using the campus as a living laboratory for Coalition action team projects. Specifically, Energy Action Team, Water Action Team and Waste Reduction Action Team have catalyzed opportunities in this way. - OSU Sustainability Office is the primary financial and logistical sponsor of the Coalition's annual sustainability Town Hall meetings.